site.btaBulgaria Launches Projects under New Operational Programme about an Year Earlier Than in Previous Period

Bulgaria Launches Projects under New Operational Programme about an Year Earlier Than in Previous Period

Sofia, May 29 (BTA) - Bulgaria will launch projects under the
new operational programmes, Innovations and Competitiveness and
Human Resources, about a year earlier than this happened during
the first programme period in 2007-2013, Deputy Prime Minister
for European Policies Coordination and Institutional Affairs,
Tomislav Donchev said at a conference on EU cohesion policy
Friday.

The new programme, Regions in Growth 2014-2020, will have a new
approach in three directions. First, there will be no piecemeal
investment, second municipalities will choose their projects
themselves, and third a large percentage on funding under the
programme will be aimed at financial engineering instruments,
Regional Development and Public Works Minister Lilyana Pavlova
said.

The integrated urban development plans are a better variant than
single projects. In this way, investors will know where there
is urban development, and these plans will also provide better
investments under the other programmes, as well as private
investors.

Five new funds will be established to operate with the financial
resources: for the development of Sofia, of Northern Bulgaria,
of Southern Bulgaria, a tourism fund and a guarantee fund,
Pavlova said. The guarantee fund will support the instruments
for housing energy efficiency and the first projects for funding
will be opened by the end of June, Pavlova said.

Under the old operational programme 77 Bulgarian cities received
investments of 360 million leva and changed their outlook,
providing better living conditions for their citizens. A total
of 1,500 buildings such as schools and kindergartens were
rehabilitated, 100 tourist attractions were made as well as
numerous cultural sites.

A total of 176 km of motorways were built and 1,600 km of the
republican road network were rehabilitated. Several sections of
the Strouma and Maritsa motorways are also pending completion,
and the investment in improving the road network amounts to
1,500 million leva, Pavlova said.

Funds for the reform of the Emergency Medical Aid will also be
set aside under the new OP Regions in Growth for the purchase of
ambulances and equipment.

In addition, water associations have already been established in
24 of the 28 regions. They have decided to streamline
management and 16 regions already have one operator each who
will be the beneficiary under the new OP Environment.