Bulgaria Vows to Invest in Poor Northwest Region

The city of Vidin, once a point of thriving commerce (19th - early 20th c.), has of late been falling into sharp decline. File photo.

Bulgaria is to invest some BGN 35 M for the current programming period in the northwestern Vidin region, one of the country's poorest.

This number was unveiled by Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov, who was present Thursday at the opening of a renovated road section between the city of Vidin and the town of Archar.

The total cost of the renovation project will amount some BGN 14.7 M, with 75% of the funds co-financed by the World Bank.

The BGN 35 M for Vidin region will be concentrated chiefly in infrastructure and tourist and historic sites in the region, said Borisov.

"Bulgaria will also invest an additional BGN 50-60 M for the Danube Bridge 2," added the PM, referring to the second bridge over the Danube to link Bulgaria and Romania, which is currently under construction at Vidin and Calafat.

"At the same time, the central government will not be able to financially support the Vidin municipality, as EU law prohibits that," added Borisov.

Months before the end of 2011, the Vidin local authorities had announced the municipality had exhausted its funds and could not pay its bills.

Speaking Thursday, Borisov slammed former Vidin mayor, Vladimir Toshev from his own GERB party, for mismanaging the city's affairs.

"Vidin, like so many municipalities in Bulgaria, has been dismally ruled, so in October citizens were right to punish GERB and to elect the Bulgarian Socialist Party's candidate Gergo Gergov for mayor," said the PM.

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