E/C.12/1/Add.37 page 2 5. The Committee welcomes the readiness of Bulgaria to give favourable consideration to acceding to an optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 6. The Committee notes with satisfaction that despite the privatization of health services, medicines will continue to be distributed free of charge to the disadvantaged groups of society, and that mental health services will remain public. 7. The Committee notes with satisfaction the establishment, at the Higher Institute, of a programme for the training of police officers in human rights and refugee law. Similarly, the Committee welcomes the training in human rights afforded to magistrates. C. Factors and difficulties impeding the implementation of the Covenant 8. The Committee acknowledges the negative effects of the armed conflict in the Balkans on the Bulgarian economy, especially the destruction and blockage of trade routes and the disruption of navigation on the Danube. 9. The Committee takes note of the information supplied by the delegation that the financial stringencies related to structural adjustment programmes undertaken by Bulgaria in agreement with international financial institutions have negatively affected the ability of Bulgaria to comply with its obligations under the Covenant. D. Principal subjects of concern 10. The Committee is deeply concerned that despite the efforts of the State party to improve the situation of the population, there is still an alarmingly high level of poverty in Bulgaria and that the social protection of the population continues to deteriorate, especially among the vulnerable groups. 11. The Committee deplores the discrimination against the Roma minority in many aspects of life, including education, work, social benefits and access to land. The Committee is especially concerned about the high rate of unemployment among the Roma minority and the poor quality of education afforded to this group. 12. The Committee notes with regret that the delegation was not able to specify any procedure through which minorities can voice complaints about the status of their enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. 13. The Committee notes with regret that despite the Government’s efforts to combat unemployment, success has not been achieved in this regard. 14. The Committee deplores the situation where those who are employed receive salaries which do not allow them to secure for themselves and their families an adequate standard of living.