Bulgaria’s Ministries of Agriculture, Transport, Regional Development, Need Extra Money

Bulgaria’s ministries of agriculture, regional development and transport have reported shortfalls which are expected to be covered by the budget update.

A total of BGN 92 M is necessary for the payment of subsidies to farmers and for the co-financing of EU projects for the development of rural areas.

The funding, which is to go to Bulgaria’s State Fund Agriculture, has been included in the proposal of the caretaker government for a budget update, according to reports of Standard daily.

A sum of BGN 60 M of the total is to go to livestock breeders, while BGN 22.1 M is to go to projects under the Rural Areas Development Program, and BGN 10 M is to go to gardeners and fruit farmers.

The shortfall at the Agriculture Ministry amounts to BGN 16.4 M, which is necessary for the maintenance of Bulgaria’s Food Safety Agency, the Agricultural Academy, the Executive Forest Agency and the Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Apart from that, a total of BGN 10 M has to be allocated to rendering plants in 2014. The allocation has not been included into the budget update proposal.

Bulgaria’s Regional Development Ministry reports a shortage of BGN 16.4 M, of which BGN 13 M is to be spent on winter road maintenance.

A total of BGN 3.4 M is necessary to pay compensations for land expropriation and to cover activities under infrastructure projects.

Lazar Lazarov, head of Bulgaria’s Road Infrastructure Agency, has underscored the need to invest BGN 15 M in urgent road repairs or otherwise face double costs in spring.

Bulgaria’s Transport Ministry reports a shortfall of BGN 14.7 M for the payment of obligations under the contract for the construction of Danube Bridge Vidin – Calafat.