Issues Regarding the Joint Work of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and Municipalities, Were Discussed by Minister Pavlova and the Management Board of the Association of Local Authorities in Bulgaria

Issues concerning the Water Reform, urban development master plans, cadaster, the National Programme for Energy Efficiency of Residential Buildings and the Programmes financed by the European Union, were discussed today by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Mrs. Lilyana Pavlova, and the Management Board of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria during a meeting held in Pernik. The regional minister expressed discontent that four of the areas in Bulgaria do not have a consolidated water and sewerage operator and if they hold up the choice of a common operator for each of these areas there is a risk of missing the deadlines for implementation of Operational Programme "Environment 2014-2020" and not receiving funding for water supply and sewerage projects.

Due to the fact that this Programme will finance municipalities with more than 10 thousand residents while the Rural Development Programme – up to 2000 residents, as well as because of the lack of sufficient funds to finance the sector Pavlova commented on the possibility to establish a long-term fund for those with number of residents between the two limits. She pointed out the opportunity financially sound water and sewerage companies to issue the so called waterbonds, which will provide them with additional financial resource.

The regional minister suggested to the representatives of the local authorities that templates for standard documentation could be developed, which would facilitate the implementation of the National Energy Efficiency Programme with a view to this year’s upcoming tenders that will be conducted for selection of contractors for 1200 buildings. She stressed that the municipalities should prioritize the buildings and emphasized on including activities that would lead to the required energy efficiency class and the structural stability in order that more homeowners' associations to take advantage of the Programme.

Lilyana Pavlova informed the mayors that a methodology for allocation of funds to municipalities to assist them in the preparation of urban development master plans for their territories has been published. She reminded that municipalities could use the capacity of the National Centre for Regional Development.

Deputy Minister Nikolay Nankov said that all agreements contracted with municipalities for providing grant aid for development of urban development master plans in 2014 and 2015 that are not completed, will receive funding in 2016 as well. Municipalities that applied for grant aid in 2015 but have not signed agreements will also be subsidized too. The duration of the contracts will be for three years and the municipalities will receive advance payments, added the Deputy Minister.  

Minister Lilyana Pavlova called on municipalities which are beneficiaries under priority axes 1 and 2 of the Operational Programme Regions in Growth to be more active in order to meet the deadlines.

Deputy Minister Denitsa Nikolova informed about the successfully passed deadline for submission of investment programs by 39 municipalities – beneficiaries under priority axis 1. She also called on them to submit their project proposals for at least 50% of the estimated resource for each municipality in the set deadline, otherwise their budgets would be reallocated. Nikolova stressed that projects for the rest of the funds have to be submitted to the intermediate bodies by May 31, 2019.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that municipalities could work on the preparation of specific project proposals while expecting approval of their investment programs. She added that their detailed elaboration would contribute to a more rapid signing of the contracts for grant aid.

Nikolova focused on the fact that the tender procedures for selection of contractors should be announced within 12 months from the signing of the grant contracts. On the whole, structuring of the intermediate bodies has completed successfully, however, three municipalities still have no structured intermediate bodies, said she.
Until March 15, 2016 100 project proposals have been submitted by all 28 municipalities – beneficiaries under Priority Axis 2 of OPRG 2014-2020, noted Denitsa Nikolova.
May 31, 2016 is the deadline for submission of the rest of the project proposals, added she.

The Deputy Minister focused on the low activity of local authorities regarding the provided opportunity to apply for funds under the technical assistance of the Programme, stressing that it would be useful for the work of the intermediate bodies and preparation of projects.

Denitsa Nikolova informed that 15 project proposals, covering 50% of the budget allocated to the Road Infrastructure Agency under the Regional Road Infrastructure Priority Axis have been submitted. Tenders for selection of contractors for 12 of the project proposals were announced today, said Minister Pavlova.   

Deputy Minister Nikolova also commented the Territorial Cooperation Programmes. 
The evaluation of 380 project proposals that have been submitted under the first call for proposals of the Cross-border cooperation Bulgaria – Serbia Programme is being carried out, said she, adding that grant agreements are expected to be contracted in September. The same will be the deadline for evaluation and contracting agreements for the approved projects under the Cross-Border Cooperation Programmes with Macedonia and Turkey.

April 22, is the last date to submit project proposals under the Programme between Bulgaria and Greece and the evaluation of the proposed investment projects under the Programme with Romania is in progress, informed Nikolova.

The Deputy Minister told the municipalities that a new Call for Proposals under the Interreg Europe Programme will be announced in next week. It will finance preparation of strategic instruments and plans. 

A new Call for Proposals has been opened under the Urbact ІІІ Programme, which is focused on the implementation of measures for integrated policies such as the application of integrated plans for urban regeneration and development as well as it is an opportunity to expand OPRD 2014-2020, stressed the Deputy Minister.

Application guidelines under the Black Sea Basin Joint Operational Programme are about to be finalized and a Call for Project Proposals is to be announced.