site.btaPM, Bulgaria's Representative to ECA Ivanova Discuss Country's Success with AI Factory Project

Bulgaria's resounding success in attracting one of the European Union's six new artificial intelligence factories to its territory was the main topic of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov's meeting with Bulgaria's representative to the European Court of Auditors Iliana Ivanova, the Government Information Service reported Thursday. Bulgaria won the EUR 90 million project in competition with some of the most developed countries, thanks to the collaboration and results achieved between Sofia Tech Park and the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT).

The challenges facing the European budget were also a focus of the meeting. Bulgaria will make every effort to significantly improve its absorption rates in both the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Structural Funds so that the country has a strong negotiating position when the next Multiannual Financial Framework is agreed, the Prime Minister said. He also stressed on the Government's targeted efforts for fiscal stability and quick access of citizens and businesses to European funding. 

Zhelyazkov and Ivanova also discussed the delayed implementation in Bulgaria of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ivanova shared her impressions from the audit work of the European Court of Auditors, which lead to the conclusion that in order for the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plans to be successful, including the timely receipt of payments under them, quality negotiation and preparation is very important. At the same time, Ivanova also recalled the good example of effective absorption of EU funds that Bulgaria set last year, ranking among the few EU countries that implemented the EU budget for agriculture without errors. 

During the meeting, the sides agreed on the understanding that the dynamics and instability in the geopolitical perspective require more than ever speed, adequacy and accurate analysis of each measure in order to achieve a balance between the implementation of long-term objectives and the well-being of citizens.