Brussels, 17/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - European Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Cretu was in Bulgaria on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 June, where she adopted the two outstanding operational programmes - “Environment” and “Regions in Growth” - for the 2014-2020 period.
The “Environment” programme is worth more than €1.77 billion with €1.5 billion coming from European funds (€370,000 from the European regional development fund and €1.1 billion from the cohesion fund). The European Commission says this programme will “support the further shift of Bulgaria towards a more competitive, low-carbon economy compliant with the high EU standards of environment protection and resource efficiency”. This includes investment in waste and water management, environmental protection, promoting biodiversity, conservation and air quality.
The Regions in Growth programme is worth €1.5 billion, with €1.3 billion coming from the European regional development fund. Focusing on 39 urban centres, it will help improve social inclusion, energy efficiency, connectivity and healthcare. These 39 urban centres will have a direct role to play in managing EU funds. According to DG Regio, this is a requirement imposed by the new regional policy: at least 5% of ERDF funding for each member state must be directly allocated to cities.
With these two programmes, Bulgaria now has seven operational programmes. An eighth is expected to be launched, as part of the SME initiative, in which Bulgaria has announced it will be taking part. DG Regio says that this initiative forms a programme on its own. Unlike traditional programmes, it does not require co-financing by national authorities.
Commissioner Cretu was “very impressed” by the work done by Bulgaria in absorbing funding for the 2007-2013 period. “Absorption is more than 75% after being only 60% when I took office”, she said at a press conference. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said that he was “certain” that Bulgaria could reach an absorption rate of 92% by the end of the Year. (Pascal Hansens)