During his official visit to the Czech Republic Minister Valentin Cerovski talked with his counterpart Mr. Pavel Nemec, the Regional Development Minister and met with the Deputy Ministers Ivo Hartman and Yaroslav Gachka

During his official visit to the Czech Republic Minister Valentin Cerovski talked with his counterpart Mr. Pavel Nemec, the Regional Development Minister and met with the Deputy Ministers Ivo Hartman and Yaroslav Gachka. The Ministers Cerovski and Nemec discussed the progress of the regional transformation in the two countries and the experience of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic in its implementation. Both ministers were unanimous that it is of utmost importance to be set up the administrative capacity necessary for the absorption of the financial resources of EU pre-accession funds. The Czech Regional Development Ministry is paying close attention to its structures in the planned regions which are set up for the purpose of assisting local authorities in regard to the absorption of the EU funds, underlined Mr. Pavel Nemec. The different schemes of reforms in the water and sewerage sectors in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic were discussed. Minister Pavel Nemec presented the Czech practice of panel housing renovation. A special fund allocates money for that purpose, as well as financial alternatives are sought in order to assist the owners of panel housing in the renovation of the apartments. The interest of the Czech Republic in increasing the tourist flow to Bulgaria was repeatedly emphasized. In this connection, Minister Valentin Cerovski made a commitment to enhance the organization of meetings with Bulgarian tour companies in May during the visit of Mr. Ivo Hartman, the first Deputy Minister, who is also responsible for the tourism sector in the Czech Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. During the second day of his visit to the Czech Republic Minister Valentin Cerovski will meet with the Transport Minister Mr. Milan Shimonovsky, representatives of local authorities and will visit a newly constructed section of the D 5 motorway /Prague-Plzen-Rozvadov/. Photo: Minister Valentin Cerovski and the Czech Republic Regional Development Minister Mr. Pavel Nemec PR & International Relations Directorate