site.btaOperational Programmes for 2007-2013 Programming Period Implemented 98 Per Cent

Operational Programmes for 2007-2013 Programming Period Implemented 98 Per Cent

Sofia, April 7 (BTA) - Bulgaria implemented almost 98 per cent of the operational programmes co-financed by the EU through the Structural and Cohesion Funds and through the agricultural and fisheries funds for the 2007-2013 programming period, reporting to the EU 15,000 million leva and nearly 5 million leva, respectively, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds Malina Kroumova said at a meeting Thursday with the managing authorities for the programmes and the partner organizations, quoted by the Government Information Service.

"Despite the late start, Bulgaria managed to catch up, imposed a high pace, the managing authorities made tremendous efforts, and we are ending the first programming period with really excellent results. Along with that, the first tangible opportunities are already available to apply for financing under the 2014-2020 period programmes," the Deputy PM added.

Kroumova described as "indisputable" the contribution of the EU Structural and Cohesion Funds to Bulgaria's socio-economic development. The resources from the EU funds accounted for 9 per cent of the country's total budget expenditures for the 2007-2013 period but formed 80 per cent of public investments. Infrastructure development absorbed a substantial portion of this financing (20.5 per cent of the aggregate amount went for transport infrastructure, 16.2 per cent for water and waste infrastructure, 18.8 per cent for local and regional development, 12.2 per cent for investment in business development, and 9 per cent for innovations). A total of 11,778 projects were implemented during the period.

The volume of projects implemented in municipalities with a population ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 with the active involvement of the EU programmes grew 3.5-fold compared to the level in municipalities without such involvement. The number of enterprises in the large municipalities increased by 35 per cent, and investments in rural municipalities rose by 70 per cent. Enterprises there increased by 50 per cent.

The Structural and Cohesion Funds contributed favourably to the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy and to a reduction of unemployment.