40 medium and large municipalities will compete for BGN 2.5 billion under OPRD

40 medium and large municipalities will compete with projects worth a total of BGN 2.5 billion under the new operational program for regional development. The funds will finance the implementation of integrated territorial investments. This resource can be upgraded with funding from almost all other European programs, except for three of them - the Transport Connectivity Program, the Food and Material Assistance Program and the Technical Assistance Program.

The Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) is a territorial instrument of Cohesion Policy, introduced for the first time in Bulgaria in the new programming period 2021-2027. It derives from EU regulations and aims to support proposed projects on a bottom-up basis. Local stakeholders will play a leading role in proposing projects, so that the most important investments for the territories can be identified and implemented. Priority in them will be the economic orientation, which opens the possibility for hybrid financing with other programs. Priority in the evaluation of proposed investments will be given to projects initiated by more than one stakeholder in the region. The aim is to achieve above municipal importance for each investment.

Another important point in the new programming period is the need to better focus publicity and information measures so that the proposed projects and investments receive the widest possible public support in the respective territories.

For the first time in the programming period 2021-2027 under the regional program, in addition to public administrations, potential beneficiaries may be other stakeholders at the local level, including civic associations, non-governmental organisations, business representatives.

The aim of integrated territorial investments is through cooperation and partnership of several stakeholders to select projects for territorial development, which will finance important for all activities.

EU regulations set two key requirements for an integrated territorial approach. First of all, there is the need to develop and implement a territorial development strategy for each region. It should set out the basic needs and priorities.

The second requirement is that the territorial body operating in the respective territory in each of the 6 regions, namely the Regional Development Council, be involved in the project selection process and have the right to vote and have an opinion in the selection of projects to be be funded.

The 40 municipalities are listed in Priority 2 of the Regional Development Program 2021-2027. These are: Vratsa, Lovech, Lom, Montana, Troyan, Gabrovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Sevlievo, Razgrad, Svishtov, Silistra, Dobrich, Targovishte, Shumen, Sliven, Yambol, Nova Zagora, Aytos, Karnobat, Kazanlak, Svilengrad, Harmanli, Dimitrovgrad, Kardzhali, Haskovo, Asenovgrad, Velingrad, Smolyan, Pazardzhik, Peshtera, Panagyurishte, Karlovo, Botevgrad, Gotse Delchev, Dupnitsa, Kyustendil, Pernik, Petrich, Samokov and Sandanski.