Young Bulgarian entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to receive micro-credits under a new financial scheme as of 2017. The measure is under the Human Resources  Development Operational Programme of the European Union, Bulgaria’s Minister of Labor and Social Policies Zornitsa Rusinova announced during a youth career forum in the city of Kardzhali (Southeast Bulgaria). Young Bulgarians aged 29 or under will be given a priority during the fulfillment of that programme. They will have the opportunity to receive up to EUR 25,000 as self-employed. It became clear during the forum that in 2016 over 22,000 young Bulgarians found jobs under various programmes and youth unemployment in Bulgaria has dropped below the EU average for the first time.