Nearly BGN 200 million are allocated for renovation of multi-family housing in the regions affected by the energy transition

The common efforts to support the development and sustainability of the Bulgarian regions were the focus of the meetings of the Monitoring Committee of the DRP 2021-2027

Nearly BGN 200 million from the Development of Regions 2021 - 2027 Programme managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works will be invested in energy efficiency of multi-family residential buildings in the districts affected by the energy transition - Stara Zagora, Pernik and Kyustendil. The decision was endorsed at a meeting of the Programme Monitoring Committee, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works and Head of the Programme Managing Authority Yura Vitanova. The Committee members approved the methodology and selection criteria for supporting the sustainable energy renovation of multi-family residential buildings. The initiative is critical to reducing energy consumption and addressing energy poverty in the three coal regions. The call for proposals is expected to be launched by the end of June this year.

A further BGN 110 million from the programme will be allocated to support workers in sectors affected by the economic transition through training and retraining programmes aimed at improving the adaptability of the workforce and employment prospects. The call for proposals is planned to be launched in the third quarter of 2024.

Sofia Alves, Director of the Directorate for Administrative Capacity Building and Programme Implementation II at the European Commission, highlighted the urgent need to implement the territorial plans for a fair transition - funds are directed towards economic diversification, sustainable energy solutions, retraining and job creation. She stressed the importance of partnership as a cornerstone of cohesion policy, encouraging national and local stakeholders to work together to advance transition. Stakeholders were encouraged to make the most of all available resources to achieve a just transition, including available technical and advisory support.

Deputy Minister Yura Vitanova briefed the Committee members on the implementation of the DRP 2021-2027. The methodology and criteria for the selection of integrated territorial investments in 40 urban municipalities under the Integrated Urban Development priority with a budget of BGN 1.3 billion have already been approved, focusing on how these initiatives are designed to promote socio-economic growth and improve living conditions. The call for proposals for the prioritised integrated territorial investments is due to be launched in July 2024.

Bulgaria can invest a total of EUR 1.2 billion from the Fair Transition Fund under the Development of Regions programme for the period 2021-2027 in the territorial plans for fair transition of the districts of Stara Zagora, Pernik and Kyustendil. With the funds provided , the three regions have to cope with the impact of the transition to a climate-neutral economy in the coal regions. Under the same programme, 50 urban municipalities can access EUR 1.5 billion from the European Regional Development Fund for integrated urban and regional development.

The Committee was preceded by a meeting of the three sub-committees of the Just Transition Fund for the districts of Kyustendil, Pernik and Stara Zagora. The units will support the effective and successful implementation of the Fund's measures by providing the link between the interests and needs of stakeholders and the support opportunities available at national level for the three coal regions and the people and workers affected by the transition to climate neutrality. Members are the local stakeholders who are most familiar with the key priorities and issues of their respective regions in the process of successfully implementing the Fair Transition Fund investments and measures as outlined in the Territorial Fair Transition Plans approved by the European Commission in late 2023.