site.btaAll Payments under Operational Programme Regional Developments Resumed

Sofia, August 12 (BTA) - Regional Development Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva told a news briefing here Tuesday that all payments to projects funded by the EU-supported Operational Programme Regional Development, even those that have been suspended, resume with immediate effect. She was speaking to the press after a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria and the Construction Chamber, with the participation of the caretaker Ministers of Finance and Environment.
   
Applications for payments for a total of 188 million leva have already reached the certifying authority and funding will be made available regularly, Zaharieva explained.
   
Payments will also be made to projects under the troubled Operational Programme Environment as soon as the managing authority applies with the certifying authority and the application is found to meet the requirements.

"It means that the caretaker government is finding reserves and is restructuring the budget to preclude the loss of over 3 billion leva later this year," said Zaharieva.