EC Gives Green Light to Bulgaria for 2 More Operational Programs

Bulgaria's PM, Boyko Borisov (l), and Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov (r), showed letters form the EC saying Bulgaria can now use the funds from 2 more EU programs. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, announced Wednesday that the European Commission has given a green light to Bulgaria to use the funds from 2 more EU Operational Programs.

Borisov spoke during the Council of Ministers meeting Wednesday.

Just one day earlier he announced that the EC has released the funds from the “Technical Assistance” and “Regional Development” programs.

The PM said that now Bulgaria has received positive assessment on the “Transport” and “Competitiveness” programs because all measures undertaken by his GERB party cabinet are in compliance with the EC directives.

The amount from the “Competitiveness” program that now can be used by the small and medium businesses in Bulgaria is estimated at EUR 1,3 B while the one from the “Transport” program is EUR 2 B.

Meanwhile, Borisov showed letters from 2008 and 2009, sent from the EC to the former cabinet, led by Socialist PM, Sergey Stanishev, regarding both programs, notifying Bulgaria that their results were unsatisfactory.

“The Cabinet “Stanishev” was a record breaker – the money for all 7 operational programs was halted,” Borisov says, adding he expects that Brussels would release all funds by the end of the week.

The PM further pointed out that now it is the turn of the institutions to apply strong control and monitoring of the funds absorption.

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