Bulgaria Seeks 15% Increase in EU Money for Regional Development

Cities will be the focus of investments in the next programming period of the Regional Development Operational Program, according to Dentisa Nikolova, director of the managing authority of the program in Bulgaria.

She explained in a Thursday interview for Darik radio that Bulgaria was aiming at a 15% increase of the resources under the Regional Development OP in the 2014-2020 programming period.

Nikolova noted that the money allocated under the program could top BGN 4 B, according to preliminary calculations.

She added that a national concept paper was being drafted for Bulgaria's spatial development.

She specified that the concept paper provided for five levels – the first level being for megapolises all the way to the fifth level, which is for villages, the focus being on 36 cities.

Nikolova refused to comment on whether roads would be included in the operational program.

She said that talks were taking place on an intra-institutional level regarding the exact amount of financial resources would be available for the entire road network.

She added that once the sum became clear, the money would be distributed under the different operational programs.

Nikolova clarified that the road network, currently financed under the Regional Development OP, could be transferred to the Transport OP, emphasizing that the discussions were still at an initial stage.

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