Deputy Minister Denitsa Nikolova: Over 270 Projects have been Submitted under the Romania – Bulgaria 2014-2020 Cross-Border Cooperation Programme

Over 270 projects have been submitted under the Interreg V-A Romania – Bulgaria 2014-2020 Cross-Border Cooperation Programme. This was announced during the Fourth Meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Programme by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works and co-chairman of the MC, Mrs. Denitsa Nikolova, in Ruse. The investment proposals submitted under the First Call for proposals of the Programme were considered during the meeting.

The Monitoring Committee finished without any consensus and approved projects, proposed by the Evaluation Committee. This was due to the fact that only 39 of 150 investment proposals were pointed for funding. For the Bulgarian members of the Monitoring Committee of the Programme the quality of the projects as well as their effect on the regions have a leading role.

The Programme is of great importance for the development of North Bulgaria and we aim to reach maximum effect with the available resource regarding the national priorities related to infrastructure, environmental protection and disaster prevention. There was a serious debate, but we didn’t reach any consensus. We will search for a decision satisfying both countries until the end of September, Deputy Minister Nikolova said. She noted that the funding under the Programme totaling over EUR 187 million is a considerable investment for the regions.

Deputy Minister Nikolova said that due to formal administrative omissions 70% of the submitted Bulgarian projects were rejected by the Technical Secretariat. According to her, this injures the Bulgarian and Romanian beneficiaries because projects with more significant effect for the region,  especially as it comes to North and Northwest Bulgaria that need a strong support, could be rejected because of the absence of a seal or an incomplete sentence.  We are seeking a consensus option and an alternative for the projects and we will try to find a solution for a second chance until the end of September in order not to injure the country and the regions.  We will look for a remunerative solution for the good projects that haven’t been approved because of formal omissions, emphasized Deputy Minister Nikolova.  

The number of the submitted project proposals shows that the Progrmme is really important for the region and is one of the main opportunities for the local authorities and organizations to implement joint initiatives to improve the state of the border region, which is highly problematic in its economic and social development. Not only is our aim to absorb the European funds under the Programme, but to find the best projects which will contribute to economic development and employment, said Deputy Minister Nikolova.

She added that the Programme gives an opportunity for investments and stimulation of economic development. Not accidently near EUR 181 million or 87% of the budget of the Call for project proposals is aimed at improving the border infrastructure related to accessibility and connectivity, environmental protection and prevention the risk of natural disasters, stated Nikolova. According to her there is a significant financial resource under the Programme and the Managing Authority should approve projects with sustainable influence on the border area and that will encourage the development of the regions. The Cross-border Cooperation Programme between Bulgaria and Romania was one of the first approved for the new programming period. The total amount of funds under it is near EUR 260 mln.