12/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 7 November, the European Commission endorsed Bulgaria's programmes on the environment and transport. The Bulgarian ministers concerned, who announced the news, said that the transport talks ended a fortnight ago. More than €2bn will be earmarked for the programme from now until 2013. Funding in part from EU Cohesion Funds, the national transport plan aims to improve rail, road and express links and develop combined rail-water transport. The programme's priorities include modernising a rail link between Sofia and the city of Vidin (trans-European corridor No. 10), the Struma motorway (trans-European corridor No. 4), the Maritsa motorway, a section of the Sofia Metro, and building an intermodal terminal in Sofia. €1.2bn in further funding has been earmarked for the environment, focussing on cleaning up drinking water, managing waste and protecting biodiversity. (A. BY)