European Commission to Assess Investment Proposals for Water Supply and Sewerage in Rousse and Bourgas

A mission of the European Commission started at the beginning of the week in the cities of Rousse and Bourgas. The mission will assess investment proposals for integrated water projects to be financed by the ISPA programme of the European Commission. The mission will study the proposed components for reconstruction and extension of the water supply and sewerage infrastructure of the two cities, as well as for building a wastewater treatment plant in the city of Rousse. The assessment has been assigned by the European Commission and will be made by Graham Cleverly, an independent water and environmental consultant. Representatives of the co-financing institution – the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) – Henry Russell and Iliana Tsanova, will also take part in the mission. The Regional Policy General Directorate of the European Commission is represented by Samuel Meunier who is in charge of ISPA environment projects for Bulgaria and Romania. The funding for the water supply and sewerage facilities in the two cities exceeds EUR 80 million. The total sum for Rousse is approximately EUR 54 million, of which 75% are provided in grant aid under the ISPA programme, 15% by the EBRD and 10% from the national budget of the Republic of Bulgaria. The Bourgas Water Supply and Sewerage Company will receive a EUR 19 million (75%) grant aid under the ISPA Programme and EUR 11 million (25%) in an EBRD loan. The documents in support of the project for upgrading and extending the water supply and sewerage systems in Bourgas were signed at the beginning of June by the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and the municipality of Bourgas. A loan agreement between the EBRD and the Bourgas Water Supply and Sewerage Company was also signed in early June. Public Relations and International Activities Directorate