site.btaFinance Ministry Allocates Close to Mln 167 Lv to Pay for Construction Work under Projects Funded by OP Environment

Sofia, August 5 (BTA) - The Finance Ministry allocated 166,805,000 leva from the State Budget to pay for construction work under projects funded by OP Environment 2007-2013, said outgoing Environment and Water Minister Stanislav Atanassov during a news conference on Tuesday, which is his last day in office.

According to him, the goal is to ensure comfort to municipalities and construction companies in the active summer season, so that they can work on projects. Atanassov said that the control systems audit is expected to conclude within a week or two, after which Brussels should pronounce itself on the suspend payments under OP Environment.

Negotiations are ongoing with the European Commission on its demand to impose further financial corrections, with Bulgaria being against such corrections.

Payment of funds has already started and should be completed in a day or two. These are all verified expenses of construction companies, so they can continue working in that week or two, until all circumstances surrounding the resumption of payments by Brussels are figured out, said Atanassov. According to him, all funds will be distributed equally and will cover 100 per cent of all verified payments.

"With this transfer that we are currently doing, money from the Operational Programme could be used," said Atanassov, adding that when Brussels resumes payments, these funds will be refunded to a national fund and a large part of the current budget deficit will be covered.

The Minister noted that an additional 202,857,000 leva, in the process of verification, have been allocated and are expected to be processed within two to three weeks.