Development of Regions Programme 2021-2027 is implemented on time, priority projects announced in early 2024.

We are closing the OPRG 20140-2020 with investments of BGN 3 billion.

It is expected that early next year the reception of specific projects under the Development of Regions 2021-2027 Programme (RDP), managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW), will start. The European programme is of utmost importance for investments in the development of settlements in the country and the support of local authorities and communities. This became clear during the 4^th meeting of the Programme Monitoring Committee, which was held in a hybrid format in Sofia. The Forum was opened by Asya Stankova - Director General of the Directorate General “Strategic Planning and Regional Development Programmes” and Zsolt Sokolay - Deputy Team Leader for Bulgaria in the Directorate General “Regional and Settlement Policy” of the European Commission. The Deputy Minister and Head of the Managing Authority of the programme Angelina Boneva and Agnes Monfre - Head of the team for Bulgaria at the EC - also gave welcoming speeches online.

“The Development of Regions Programme 2021-2027 is being implemented on time,” noted Ivaylo Stoyanov, Head of the Strategic Planning and Programming Department at the MRDPW, when presenting its progress. He reminded that the programme was approved by the EC at the end of last year. “Unlike the other European programmes, which are preserved in terms of structure and implementation compared to the previous programming periods, the DRP is much different and a number of steps have to be completed before the actual financing of the projects, which follow the specificities of the regions, can begin,” Stoyanov said. The resource for the development of the ten largest cities and the 40 smaller urban municipalities is about BGN 3.5 billion.

Stoyanov clarified that in order to ensure the implementation of the priority “Integrated Urban Development” in the ten largest municipal centers a process of structuring the units and committees for project selection is underway. In addition to local and regional authorities, representatives of NGOs, civil society and business organizations, academic structures, etc. are also involved in these committees. For Priority 2 “Integrated Territorial Development of Regions”, where investments will be implemented through the Integrated Territorial Investments approach, a total of 165 concepts have been received and are currently being assessed by the Regional Development Councils and their expert units. “This is a serious progress because Bulgaria is implementing for the first time such an instrument, which draws funding from a total of 6 European programmes and the structuring was difficult and took time”, Stoyanov stressed.  He also informed that in order to facilitate the beneficiaries a special digital platform is being developed that will support all participants in the implementation of the programme through information in a readable and convenient form. In February 2024, a new call for applications with concepts for integrated territorial investments is planned. In January, there will also be a renewal of the Regional Development Councils following the local elections in the country, which play an important role in the selection of investment proposals.

“This year is very dynamic. In parallel with the preparation and launch of the implementation of the new Programme “Development of Regions” for the period 2021-2027, we continue to actively work on the completion of the current Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014-2020”, said Asya Stankova. She reported on the successful implementation of the 2014-2020 OPRG, which ends on 31 December this year. The disbursed funds amount to BGN 2.571 billion or 82% of the programme budget and the certified expenditure by the EC amounts to BGN 2.123 billion or 67% of the budget, with an active certification process expected in the coming months.

Projects at risk in implementation have also been identified. The reason for their delay is the crises related to the coronavirus pandemic, economic stagnation and the war in Ukraine. The Managing Authority of the OPRG has taken the necessary measures to minimise the risks of loss of funds. To this end, a two-stage reporting of grant contracts for projects at risk will be introduced. Through a supplementary agreement, they will be able to submit a request for final payment by 15.01.2024 and a supplementary final technical report by 31.07.2024 at the latest. With the approval of the Monitoring Committee, part of the funds at risk have been directed to new measures related to the rehabilitation of feeder and forest roads in the Burgas region, as well as support to small and medium enterprises affected by high electricity prices.