Bulgarian refugee integration policy has been very weak in recent years. In 2021, Bulgaria scored only 37.1 points out of 100 in the NIEM comparative report that measured how 14 EU member states support refugee integration at the national level. In addition, the latest Asylum Information Database (AIDA) country report on Bulgaria (2021) concluded that “no other integration activities are planned, funded or made available to recognised refugees or subsidiary protection holders, thus marking the eighth consecutive year of the national 'zero integration' policy”.

The Ukrainian crisis, however, put the topic of refugee integration on the highest political agenda in Bulgaria. While numerous governmental, municipal and civil society initiatives were launched to assist those fleeing Ukraine, the state did not open or support any integration centres or comprehensive integration programmes.

Despite this, in recent weeks two new civil society integration centres opened in Sofia. Both are financed by private foundations, companies and individuals. No other new integration centres are yet known to exist in Bulgaria. These two centres are the Ukrainian Beehive - Educational and Integration Centre and the Integration Centre #ForTheGood.

Ukrainian Beehive - Educational and Integration Centre is run by AID for Ukraine Association. It provides:

• psychosocial support;
• various group activities for children, teenagers, women and families (such as art therapy, cooking classes, dance classes, yoga, etc.);
• Bulgarian language classes;
• English language classes.

Integration Centre #ForTheGood is run by #ForTheGood Foundation. It provides:

• humanitarian aid;
• psychological support;
• support related to employment, transport, accommodation;
• Bulgarian language classes;
• healthcare consultations;
• various activities for children ;
• classes and workshops for teenagers;
• the 'Hug a Family' integration programme, matching Ukrainian and Bulgarian families;
• individual integration support.

Both integration centres collaborate with numerous NGOs and volunteers to provide their wide range of services.