The adopted Regional Development Act /RDA/ provides the framework for a balanced and sustainable social and economic development of the regions in the country by a mechanism for a purposeful influence over them

The adopted Regional Development Act /RDA/ provides the framework for a balanced and sustainable social and economic development of the regions in the country by a mechanism for a purposeful influence over them. This was announced by the Regional Development and Public Works Minister Valentin Cerovski after the end of the two-day seminar of the administrative body of the political council of the National Movement Simeon the Second /NMSS/ in Bourgas, which was attended by mayors from the whole country, who are nominated or supported by the Movement. Minister Valentin Cerovski, the Regional Development and Public Works Deputy Minister Petya Gegova and the Environment and Waters Minister Dolores Arsenova were lectors at the seminar, at which were discussed the opportunities for funding infrastructural projects by the EU pre-accession funds. Minister Cerovski presented before the attendees some of the requirements imposed by the RDA. He underlined that problematic regions should be identified in order to achieve the ultimate aim – a balanced regional policy which will reduce to the minimum the differences in the living standard between centre and periphery. Minister Cerovski presented projects, which are to be implemented under PHARE in the Bourgas Region. They include: a road section construction – Malko Tarnovo – Cross-border Checkpoint at the total amount of 1,5 million euro; improving the opportunities for fire and rescue service and civil defence in the Bulgarian-Turkish border region at the total amount of 1,2 million euro; enhancing institutional capacity and regional cooperation for bio-variety preservation and sustainable development of the Strandja Nature Park at the total amount of 200,000 euro; the opportunities for development of alternative tourism as well as the border regions of Bulgaria and Turkey at the total amount of 800,000 euro. PR & International Relations Directorate