Deputy PM Zaharieva: 78% of Regional Development Ministry Budget Spent in H1 2014

Bulgaria's Ministry of Regional Development budget lacks some BGN 10-11M needed for the maintenance of roads in the winter season.

If the budget is not updated, the amount will reach BGN 40-50M in the spring, caretaker deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva told Bulgarian National Television. Another BGN 80M is needed for road repairs after the floods, she added.

Zaharieva noted that 78% of the Ministry of Regional Development budget has already been spent in the first six months of 2014. This led to the suspension of several key projects such as the renovation of highway viaducts. The repair works of 34 sections of Trakia highway which are in extremely poor condition have also been halted, Focus news reports.

According to Zaharieva, the shortage of funds is due to the poorly planned budget for 2014 and the unrealistic revenue forecasts, where a shortage of around BGN 1.1B is expected. "There is no money for social activities. Some BGN 160M, needed to increase police officers' wages has not been set aside, and the National Health Insurance Fund is underfunded," said Zaharieva, cited by Bulgarian Telegraph Agency.

The deputy PM defended the budget update proposed by the interim government claiming that this is the minimum increase of costs necessary for the state to continue to function.

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