Directorate General Strategic Planning and Programs for Regional Development

Director General: Asya Stankova
E-mail: oprd@mrrb.government.bg

Public Procurement Control and Irregularities Department
Head of Department: Zhivka Georgieva

Coordination and Evaluation Department
Head of Department: Izabel Vladimirova

Monitoring Department
Head of Department: Plamen Iliev

Pre-selection and Contracting Department
Head of Department: Keti Karacholova

Financial Management and Control Department
Head of Department: Nuray Osman

Strategic Planning and Programming Department
Head of Department: Ivaylo Stoyanov

Northwestern Region Department
Head of Department: Boryana Voycheva-Nenkova

North Central Region Department
Head of Department: Vida Vlaykova

Northeastern Region Department
Head of Department: Galina Ivanova

Southeastern Region Department
Head of Department: Vladimir Dukov

South Central Region Department
Head of Department: Petya Agusheva

Southwestern Region Department
Head of Department: Dzheni Uzunova

General Directorate “Strategic Planning and Regional Development Programmes” (GD “SPRDP”):

1. Functions as the Managing Authority of the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020 and carries out all obligations and responsibilities arising therefrom in accordance with the regulations of the European Union and the European Structural and Investment Funds, including:
a) Organises, coordinates and harmonises the preparation and management of the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020 in accordance with the Coordination Mechanism for the National Development Plan and the Partnership Agreement, with the objective of achieving sustainable and balanced development of the regions of the Republic of Bulgaria;
b) Directs the activities of the territorial units in the NUTS 2 regions;
c) Organises the development and updating of systems of indicators for monitoring the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020;
d) Ensures the preparation and publication of application documents for grant award procedures under the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020 and organises the evaluation of submitted project proposals;
e) Exercises control over the activities of the Intermediate Bodies under Priority Axis 1 of the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020;
f) Prepares and concludes grant agreements under the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020;
g) Carries out operational, financial and procedural monitoring of operations financed under the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020;
h) Performs ongoing control and pre-verification control over the implementation of contracts concluded with beneficiaries under the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020;
i) Organises, chairs, and provides technical and administrative support for the meetings of the Monitoring Committee of the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020 and acts as its secretariat; is responsible for the implementation of decisions adopted during the Committee’s meetings;
j) Is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system for collecting reliable financial and statistical data relating to the implementation of monitoring and evaluation indicators and regularly enters information into the Information System for Management and Monitoring of EU Funds in Bulgaria (UMIS 2020);
k) Ensures the preparation and implementation of activities related to the ex-ante, ongoing and ex-post evaluation of the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020 in accordance with the requirements of European legislation and methodological documents governing the European Structural and Investment Funds;
l) Is responsible for the introduction and use by beneficiaries and other bodies involved in the management and implementation of the programme of a separate accounting system for all activities financed under the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020;
m) Performs payments and transfers funds to beneficiaries under the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020;
n) Monitors the legality of financial operations through the implementation of systems and measures ensuring sound financial management and control;
o) Carries out monitoring activities and applies corrective measures in accordance with the requirements of the European Commission in cases where irregularities are identified;
p) Is responsible for the preparation and implementation of the Annual Action Plan of the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020 under the National Communication Strategy and for information and communication activities promoting the programme.
q) Prepares the annual implementation reports and the final implementation report for the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020 and submits them for approval by the Monitoring Committee and the Council for Coordination and Management of EU Funds under the Council of Ministers before their submission to the European Commission; subsequently transmits them to the European Commission services;
r) Monitors the management and control systems of the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020 and ensures the availability of a reliable audit trail;
s) Acts as a beneficiary and conducts public procurement procedures related to the implementation of Priority Axis 8 “Technical Assistance” of the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020, in compliance with the principles of segregation of functions and responsibilities;
t) Ensures the sustainability of projects financed under Priority Axis 8 “Technical Assistance”, for which departments within GD “SPRDP” are beneficiaries;
u) Carries out expenditure verification activities under the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020 in accordance with national legislation and European Union rules;
v) Ensures the existence of a computerised system for recording and storing accounting records for each operation under the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020, as well as the data necessary for implementation, financial management, monitoring, verification, audit and evaluation;
w) Organises the accounting and financial reporting of funds under the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” in accordance with national and European legislation and reports to the Certifying Authority;
x) Organises the process of monitoring amounts recovered to the accounts of the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020 (unduly paid amounts, imposed financial corrections, as well as improperly received or improperly used funds, etc.);
y) Organises the recovery of receivables and/or the non-verification of ineligible expenditure resulting from imposed financial corrections;
z) Supervises the management of financial instruments for the 2014–2020 programming period financed under the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth” 2014–2020;
aa) Participates in programme-level and project-level risk management and risk assessment, including through the ARACHNE fraud and irregularity risk assessment tool, as well as through self-assessment exercises in accordance with the European Commission Guidelines on Risk Assessment and the Effective and Proportionate Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Measures; also participates in the development and updating of risk assessment systems.

2. Functions as the Managing Authority of the Operational Programme “Regional Development” 2007–2013 until its full closure and carries out all obligations and responsibilities arising therefrom in accordance with the regulations of the European Union, the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, as well as the national legal framework.

3. Functions as the competent national authority responsible for the management and control of activities financed by the European Union Solidarity Fund and carries out all obligations and responsibilities arising therefrom in accordance with European Union regulations and national legislation, including:
a) Submits applications for assistance from the European Union Solidarity Fund in the event of a national or regional disaster in accordance with the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund, as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014;
b) Manages, controls, coordinates and carries out operational, financial and procedural monitoring of operations financed by the European Union Solidarity Fund in accordance with Council of Ministers Decree No 434 of 2014;
c) Organises and supervises the preparation and submission to the European Commission of reports on the utilisation of resources from the European Union Solidarity Fund for each approved application.

4. Supports and coordinates the implementation of the institution’s responsibilities related to the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

5. Carries out activities related to the formulation and implementation of policies in the field of regional development and programming in accordance with European regulations and national legislation, including:
a) Conducts studies and analyses for the purposes of implementing the national regional development policy;
b) Organises and coordinates the preparation of the Regional Development Strategy, regional development plans, the National Spatial Development Concept, and regional and municipal spatial development schemes;
c) Prepares proposals for improving national legislation and harmonising it with European Union legislation in the field of regional development and spatial planning at national and regional level;
d) Organises and prepares methodological guidelines for the preparation and implementation of strategic regional development planning documents, including the National Spatial Development Concept and regional spatial development schemes under the Regional Development Act;
e) Coordinates and supervises the effective and efficient implementation of strategic regional development planning documents throughout their period of validity;
f) Ensures the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of strategic regional development planning documents, including the National Spatial Development Concept, regional spatial development schemes for NUTS 2 regions, and Integrated Plans for Urban Regeneration and Development;
g) Develops, coordinates and participates in the management, monitoring and evaluation of targeted investment programmes supporting the integrated development of lagging, peripheral and mountainous areas;
h) Acts as the secretariat of the Regional Development Councils, including for the purposes of regional coordination in the implementation of operational programmes co-financed by the European Structural and Investment Funds;
i) Develops and implements measures for resource provision, institutional development and capacity building in the field of regional development management;
j) Ensures information and publicity regarding state policy in the field of regional development and spatial planning;
k) Carries out activities related to its role as beneficiary and/or partner under projects financed by the Operational Programme “Good Governance” and by European Commission horizontal instruments;
l) Participates in the planning of measures and resources for activities in regions with unfavourable socio-economic, geographical and demographic characteristics.

The General Directorate “Strategic Planning and Regional Development Programmes” (GD “SPRDP”) is headed by a Director General. In the performance of his/her duties and powers, the Director General is assisted by two Deputy Directors General.

GD “SPRDP” has territorial units established within the NUTS 2 regions, which support the implementation of the functions referred to in items 1–5 above.