site.btaOutgoing Deputy Prime Minister Zlatanova: 19% of EU Funds Absorbed in 14 Months

Sofia, July 30 (BTA) - In 14 months, Bulgaria absorbed 19 per cent of all EU funds against 36 per cent in all preceding years, outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Zinaida Zlatanova told a news conference after the last meeting of the cabinet on Wednesday.

Zlatanova said that  4.2 billion leva have been paid out. She voiced a hope that the speedy pace of absorption will continue throughout the entire programme period. The EU-Bulgaria Partnership Agreement is expected to be approved next week at the latest, said Zlatanova. She added that operational programmes are being agreed with the European Commission and are expected to be approved by mid-October, meaning that project implementation may start as early as this year.

In her words, the government had to draw up and adopt 13 sectoral strategies during its 14-months term. These strategies begin reform processes, which should continue in the following years, said the Deputy Prime Minister. One of the greatest successes of this government is to have steered the country on the road to reforms assisted by the European Commission, she said.