Bulgaria Gives New Try at EU PHARE Funds Release

Millions of EUR for Bulgaria from the EU PHARE program were blocked by the EC during the term of the previous, socialist-led cabinet. File photo

Bulgaria has asked the European Commission to reinstate more funds under its operation PHARE program, according to the Minister for EU Funds, Tomislav Donchev.

The Minister declined offering exact amounts,

About EUR 130 M under the program were frozen during the term of the previous, socialist-led cabinet. With the arrival of the center-right government of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party, its Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, was able to unblock some of these funds at the end of 2009. The official request was for BGN 91 M, but it remains unclear how much were granted back by the EC,

In addition to freezing the PHARE funds, the EC, at the time, revoked the license of two Bulgarian agencies – at the Finance and Regional Development Ministries – to handle these funds. Experts say off the record that Bulgarian has no chance to get them back, and Donchev, himself, commented, he is unsure of the outcome.
The PHARE money paid so far amounts currently to EUR 615 M, or 84% of the contracted EUR 731 M. The total PHARE budget was for EUR 1.06 B.

The PHARE program is one of the three pre-accession instruments financed by the European Union to assist the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe in their preparations for joining the European Union.

Its objectives include: strengthening of public administrations and institutions to function effectively inside the European Union; promoting convergence with the European Union's extensive legislation and reduving the need for transition periods, promoting economic and social cohesion.

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