site.bta Regional Development Minister Pavlova Participates in Meeting on EU Strategy for the Danube Region

Regional Development Minister Pavlova Participates in Meeting on EU Strategy for the Danube Region

Brussels/Sofia, May 13 (BTA) - Regional Development and Public
Works Minister  Liliyana Pavlova Wednesday participated in a
Brussels meeting of the ministers responsible for  the EU
Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and the foreign ministers
 of the  countries participating in the initiative. The forum is
 intended to inform the ministers about Baden-Wuerttemberg's
rotating presidency and to provide a platform for discussion of
topical matters, including possible ways to finance the
activities envisaged in the Strategy.

Pavlova told the participants that Bulgaria backs the joint
declaration on the Strategy, which approves a single managing
structure of the EUSDR entailing greater commitment of the
riparian countries. The member states agree to apply the Troika
leadership consisting of the previous, current and future
rotating presidents.

The ministers discussed the need of better channelling of all
financial resources in support of the Strategy's implementation.

Pavlova officially stated Bulgaria's wish to assume the EUSDR
rotating presidency during its EU Presidency in the second half
of 2018. She told the participants that Bulgaria had completed
its coordination tasks at the national level. The EU Structural
and Investment Funds have been the main source of financing, but
 the countries should seek possibilities for financing under
various EU programmes managed by the European Commission, the
financial institutions and the private sector. 

Pavlova also conferred with the Vice  President of the  European
 Commission and Commissioner for  Budget and Human  Resources
Kristalina Georgieva. The sides discussed subjects of  common
interest  and how European funds could work more quickly  and
efficiently  for Bulgaria.
   
Streamlining the procedures and speeding up the applications of
  the countries for financial support following natural
disasters   along the line of the Solidarity Fund was one of the
 subjects   brought up by Pavlova. To date, Bulgaria has sent
three  requests  for financial assistance, on one of which funds
 have  actually  been transferred. This particular case is the
flooding  in the  Asparouhovo neighborhood of Varna (on the
Black Sea).  The second  application is for the disaster in
Mizia, which is  expecting  approval by the Council and the
European Parliament  by the end  of June 2015.
    
Pavlova requested support for the priority consideration of  
Bulgaria third application related to the winter disaster on  
the territory of the entire country. This was submitted on April
   24 this year and is worth 247 million euro.
   
To step up restorations works in the disaster regions, Bulgaria
 has requested an advance payment, which is a precedent in the 
practice of the Solidarity Fund to date.
   
Pavlova and Georgieva also discussed ideas how Bulgaria could be
  more active in respect to the Juncker Plan, as well as the 
possible steps which could make this happen.

Funding under the new operational programmes is headed for 
Bulgaria. The process of approval of the last ones, OP Regions 
in Growth and OP Environment, will be completed soon. Georgieva
 also recommended that Bulgaria should not lose time and should
 prepare the notices for invitation in them.