site.btaBulgaria Likely Won't Lose Single Euro under Rural Development Programme - Agriculture Minister

Bulgaria will probably not lose a single euro under the Rural Development Programme (RDP 2014-2020), Agriculture and Food Minister Kiril Vatev told the Committee on control of the management of European funds here, as quoted by his Ministry on Thursday. 

"We are working at an accelerated pace on the implementation of the Programme, increasing the opportunities for support and modernisation of farms," Vatev added. 

At the time of the Government's inauguration, the risk of losing funds under the RDP was 120 million euros, the Minister recalled. As of now, after a visit to Brussels by Deputy Minister Tania Georgieva and the fund's director Georgi Tahov, there is a high probability that there will be no loss in funding and even an overpayment, he said, adding that Bulgaria is nevertheless still waiting for the European Commission's (EC)  response. 

Commenting the current status of the Programme, Deputy Minister Tania Georgieva said that challenges and risks in its implementation have been identified and measures have been taken to overcome them. She explained that the Managing Authority of the Programme has asked the EC to recognize extenuating circumstances, such as COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, which have prevented State Fund Agriculture from making payments to beneficiaries under the various measures and sub-measures in 2023.