site.btaFunds for Municipal Projects to Be Allocated by Cabinet Decisions

Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Shishkov told a press briefing on Wednesday that the government is changing its approach to the allocation of funds for municipal projects, ensuring that financial resources are distributed transparently and fairly, by a decision of the Council of Ministers.

Shishkov alleged that the previous government had specific criteria regarding which municipalities should receive funding and which should not. He stated that this practice is now over and added that municipalities that were left out will also have the opportunity to take part in the programme.

The Minister reported that local authorities, which had requested that agreements be concluded by the end of 2025, but where this had not happened, will have the opportunity to apply for and receive the funding to which they are entitled. Municipal projects at an advanced stage that meet the criteria for European funding will be redirected to EU funds in order to ease the burden on the state budget.

Shishkov said that inspections will be launched on the volume of work actually carried out and on payments for municipal projects.

With the adoption of the 2026 Budget, Annex 3 in its current form has been removed, and it has been proposed that municipal projects eligible for payment be determined by a decree of the Council of Ministers upon the proposal of the Minister for Regional Development. The total funds disbursed under the municipal investment programme amount to just over EUR 1 billion, while the total outstanding value of all projects as a whole is over EUR 4 billion.

Shishkov announced the launch of a campaign of visits across the country to identify problems with the water supply and infrastructure on the ground. "We are beginning to take an active part in tours of Bulgarian municipalities. We want to see the problems [...] on the ground. We want to familiarize ourselves with the water supply issues and infrastructure problems, and to assess where, how and to what extent assistance is needed," he said.