Minister Petya Avramova: No “blank spots” on the map of Bulgaria, in the next programming period EU funding will reach the smallest settlements

The main goal of the state and local authorities is to improve people’s lives and make them feel good not only in the capital and big cities, but also in every corner of the country. This was stated by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Petya Avramova during her participation in the introductory conference for the municipal mandate 2019-2023 of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria. Today the association celebrates 23 years since its establishment. “Over the past decades, the association has developed and strengthened along with the challenges in governing the country. Today, our dialogue is entirely in the spirit of pragmatism, without political bias, regardless of whether the municipalities are small or large, rich or poor,” said Minister Avramova. 

She stressed that along with the implementation of a balanced regional policy, the main task for the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works is to build a good road infrastructure that meets modern conditions. “The more powerful the industry becomes, the faster, more convenient and safer the roads must be,” said Minister Avramova. In this regard, she pointed out as an example that the development of Sofia is unthinkable without the Northern Speed ​​Tangent, and of Northern and Northwestern Bulgaria - without the Hemus Highway and the modernisation of the Vidin-Botevgrad road. “These projects are among our top priorities. By implementing them, we will improve the connectivity between the individual settlements, which will be a prerequisite for reducing regional disparities,” said Avramova.

The Minister also informed that another important tool for improving the living environment in the country are the investments under the Operational Program “Regions in Growth” 2014-2020. Currently, 39 large and medium-sized Bulgarian cities are being renovated with a resource of BGN 1.6 billion. Dozens of streets, boulevards and roads were repaired with funds from the programme. “Without the OPRG funding, the municipalities would have to implement these projects with their own forces and funds,” Avramova said. She reminded that with nearly BGN 370 million under OPRG 2014-2020, three Urban Development Funds were established, which together with the attracted funds manage about BGN 600 million and currently the municipalities can receive low-interest loans and bank guarantees from the funds for the improvement of the urban environment, as well as for projects in the field of tourism and cultural heritage. Along with business, they can also participate in the creation of new economic zones that will generate jobs and growth.

Minister Avramov noted that in the new programme for development of the regions, which will have an approximate resource of about BGN 3 billion, the approach will be changed. “The projects will be focused not on individual municipalities, but on the needs and specifics of each district and the utilisation of its resources. In this way, the so-called blank spots will finally be avoided and funding will be able to reach even the smallest settlements. The development of the regions will be supported on the basis of the specifics and potentials for development of the specific territories, regardless of the administrative-territorial borders. It is important to unite each region around several key priorities. “Projects that are generated on a bottom-up basis will be supported - that take into account the needs of local people and their implementation would solve the problems of most of the region,” she said.  In this direction are the prepared amendments to the Regional Development Act. They envisage the introduction of a new approach in regional governance policy, aimed at reducing the imbalance between regions and increasing the functions and powers of the Regional Development Councils. 

Minister Avramova called on even greater activity from the local authorities regarding the elaboration of projects of general development plans of the municipalities, which are financed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. Some of the municipalities have made requests for extension of the validity of these agreements. Actions will be taken by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works to conclude annexes to the agreements of 2015 and 2017 to extend their implementation until the expiration of the 2020 budget year.

She also stressed the good cooperation between local and state authorities in the implementation of the Energy Efficiency of Multi-Family Residential Buildings National Programme, which has already rehabilitated more than 1,800 buildings. “We are currently discussing options for its continuation. The implementation of energy efficiency measures has brought many benefits to both citizens and businesses. The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works provides another opportunity for the 28 small municipalities to apply for a new amount of BGN 44 million for energy efficiency under the OPRG,” she informed.

The Minister stressed the need to draft a separate Water Supply and Sewerage Act. The aim is to unite in a common normative act the regulation on ownership, management, operation and maintenance of water supply and sewerage systems and facilities, provision and regulation of water supply and sewerage services, planning and financing of investments in water supply and sewerage infrastructure.

The Regional Minister informed the present mayors and chairmen of municipal councils that the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works will administer the drawing up of a law on cemetery parks. It is being prepared at the insistence of the mayors of municipalities in the country and NAMRB, and the reason is the need for legislative regulation in this area of ​​public life. For this purpose, a working group will be set up in the ministry. It will include representatives of the Association of Municipalities.

Speaking to journalists, Minister Petya Avramova commented that today the government made decisions on certain amounts that the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works can take as a commitment to implement contracts. “The actual amount of funds allocated by the Council of Ministers today is BGN 483 million for the construction of the section of the Hemus Highway from Veliko Tarnovo to Buhovtsi with a length of nearly 89 km. This is the last section of the Hemus Highway not secured with funds and is not included in last year’s tranche, which was provided to a special account of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works for the section from Boaza to Veliko Tarnovo,” said Minister Avramova. “The funds represent the first tranche for the construction of the section, and in the coming years – between 2020 and 2022 – the government must supplement the amount with new decrees to reach the amount of BGN 1.380 billion,” said Minister Avramova. She added that these are funds from the state budget.   

Nearly BGN 280 million are allocated from the state budget of the Ministry, respectively to the Road Infrastructure Agency, for construction and payment of sites of the national road network – one of the sections of the Europe Motorway, Vitinya Tunnel, etc., said the Minister Avramova.