The Contracts on Four Financing Memoranda under Phare Program Have Been Signed

Phare Implementing Agency to MRDPW has finished the signing of the contacts on the four Financing Memoranda (FM) for 2003, announced today the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Asen Gagauzov. The contracts on Phare Program – Bulgaria – Greece, Bulgaria – Romania, External Borders Initiatives and National Program 2003 have been concluded. Contracts on External Borders Initiatives have been signed for the first time. A total of 113 contracts with total amount of MEUR 40 270 273 have been awarded on the four Financing Memoranda. The means negotiated amount to 70,32 %, underlined Minister Gagauzov. Among the bigger contracts are these for modernization and electrification of the railroad connection Blagoevgrad – Kulata and for improvement of the fire and emergency safety in the border area between Bulgaria and Greece. The building of an access road near Rudozem on the Bulgarian – Greek border has already started and the building of an access road to a new Border-Crossing Checkpoint Strumyani – Berovo is at hand. A project which leads out as a priority the integrated development of the region – infrastructure, human resources and tourism is being financed for the first time. These were identified during the pre-project researches as important for the region – a Pilot Integrated Grant Scheme for the North-East Planning Region. The pre-project researches for the building of the road Yambol – Elhovo and the designing of the road Smolyan – Srednogortsi will be financed under the concluded contracts. Public Relations and International Activities Directorate