site.bta30% of Operational Programme Budgets Contracted, 7% Paid Already - Caretaker Deputy PM

30% of Operational Programme Budgets Contracted, 7% Paid Already - Caretaker Deputy PM

Sofia, February 7 (BTA) - A total of 30 per cent of the budget of operational programmes has been contracted and 7 per cent of the funds were actually paid by the end of 2016, caretaker Deputy PM responsible for European Funds, Malina Kroumova, told journalists at the Council of Ministers. Kroumova was participating in Tuesday's second meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Partnership Agreement.

The main subjects discussed by the committee included the financial implementation of the programmes, the application of state aid, the complementary capacity of the various interventions of European structures and investment funds, and the implementation of financial instruments, among others.

The implementation of some of the operational programmes can be designated as quite good, Kroumova said. For example, OP Human Resources Development already has 44 per cent of the planned funds contracted and 12 per cent have been paid. Under OP Transport and Transport Infrastructure, 43 per cent have been contracted and 9 per cent have been paid; OP Innovations and Competitiveness is with 37 per cent contracted and 10 per cent actually paid funds. OP Rural Development is also positioned well, with 17 per cent contracted and 6.5 per cent paid funds.

The task is to close all preliminary conditions for the absorption of European funds within the mandate of the caretaker government. The only exception is the preliminary condition related to the infrastructure for research and innovations because the Strategy for Development of Research has first to be passed by the National Assembly, Kroumova said. There may also be some delays in the transport sector, for they are related to the adoption of Integrated Transport Strategy 2030, which is currently being drafted.

Another task is to simplify the rules and procedures for the implementation of projects under European funds. This is of key importance for reducing the administrative burden for beneficiaries and one that makes access to European funds easier.

Bulgaria is not a second-class state in the EU, Kroumova said in response to a question. Bulgaria receives more funding than other member-countries compared to GDP or the number of the population, she added.