site.btaAgriculture Ministry Identifies Substantial Delays in Administrative Processes under Fisheries Programme

Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev and the new leadership of his ministry have accelerated the implementation of the Maritime and Fisheries Operational Programme 2014-2020. The ministry said Friday that substantial delays and a number of issues had been identified in the implementation of the programme.

According to an opinion of the Agriculture Ministry, there is a risk of loss of funds under the programme in the amount of 12% of the funds or about BGN 24 million, as well as a lack of commitment by the Managing Authority to overcome this loss. In addition, before the new management of the agricultural department took office, there were serious delays in recent months in the conclusion of grant contracts with approved applicants and a backlog in the regulatory deadlines for the evaluation of the project proposals received under various open procedures.

Vatev and his deputy Deyan Stratev urgently shortened the deadlines for signing contracts with the selected candidates and completing the evaluations of the project proposals. The ministry provided full support and assistance to the beneficiaries for the successful completion of their projects by the end of the eligibility period. Due to the identified unrealised funds under the programme, an amendment to it has been prepared as a matter of urgency, requesting admissions in the current year totalling over BGN 19 million. Measures are targeted at investments in fishing ports, marine scientific research and a re-provision of compensation to the sector to address the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine. The measures planned for admission are aligned with payment deadlines to the beneficiaries' counterparties to ensure that payment claims can be submitted in the first half of 2024.

Earlier in the day, the Bulgarian Farmers' Union issued a statement warning that Bulgaria is in danger of losing more than BGN 80 million under the Maritime and Fisheries Operational Programme 2014-2020. The organization named the reason to be a delay in processing and payments under the programme in the past two years by the Maritime and Fisheries Directorate.