The adoption of the Regulation for defining the indicators of differentiation of the kinds of target regions embodies the implementation of the principles of decentralization, partnership and enhances the initiative of local and regional authorities

The adoption of the Regulation for defining the indicators of differentiation of the kinds of target regions implements the principles of decentralization, partnership and enhances the initiative of local and regional authorities. This has been announced today by Mrs. Petya Gegova, Regional Development and Public Works Deputy Minister, after the adoption of the Regulation by the Council of Ministers. The Regulation is adopted by virtue of Art. 7, Para. 5 of the Regional Development Act /RDA/. The RDA defines six kinds of target regions which are the basis for applying specific measures to overcome intra-regional discrepancies. The application of the regulation will be implemented as the actual values of the indicators for each municipality will be compared with their threshold values defined by this regulation, in view of inclusion or exclusion of the municipality from the scope of a target region. The indicators are individual for each target region. Their selection reflects the experience of other European countries in such cases. The proposed thresholds of the indicators for defining the territorial scope of a target region provide the adherence to the principle of “concentration of the resources for attainment of the regional development goals” pursuant to Art. 5, Item 2 of the Regional Development Act. This approach also corresponds to the principles of the EU Structural Funds. Within the regional development plans, a whole vision will be presented for target regions development in the respective planning region as the specific goals, priorities and measures for their development are identified. The planned interventions in target regions aim at reducing intra-regional discrepancies in social and economic development of planning regions. By means of the additional financial instruments which will be used to support their development, a differentiated policy shall be applied for each of them, with regard to the specific needs and peculiarities of the development. As of 2005 the MRDPW plans to direct actual financial resources to those regions on the basis of the Investment Programme for Target Regions Development. It will be worked out by virtue of the Regional Development Plans and will define the strategic goals, priorities for development of each target region, their specific goals and measures for attainment. The programme will directly contribute to the attainment of the goals of the Regional Development Plans and the National Regional Development Strategy. Investment proposals of municipalities will be considered in the distribution of resources according to the kinds of regions and the kinds of measures for their support. PR and International Relations Directorate