site.btaRegional Minister Participates in High-Level Conference of EU Eastern Border Regions

"I am here to save European funds and investments during a period of a provisional budget," caretaker Regional Development and Public Works Minister Angelina Boneva said in Brussels, quoted by her ministry's press office on Thursday.

Boneva took part in a high-level conference of eastern border regions titled "From the Frontline to the Future: Securing and Developing Europe’s Eastern Border Regions".

In Brussels, she met with Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms. Together with Commission partners, she discussed the progress in implementing EU-funded programmes managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.

"The data on the implementation of the Regional Development Programme in Bulgaria are not good, and absorption under the Just Transition Fund is zero," Boneva said. According to her, "we are starting from zero, and our ambition is to achieve the programme's end-of-year targets".

"The European Commission has asked us to begin very intensive work," she added, stressing that all opportunities remain open for Bulgaria to attempt to secure this year's funding. The amount at stake exceeds EUR 600 million. "We will have to work at full speed, but there will be European funds," Boneva stated firmly.

She also announced that Bulgaria will participate "with great dynamism" in the Commission's new investment plan for eastern EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The plan foresees nearly EUR 28 billion in private and public investment across Bulgaria and eight other eastern Member States.

In her address to conference participants, Boneva emphasized that resilience and stability in the Black Sea region are among Bulgaria's top priorities.

Amid ongoing geopolitical pressure in the region, she said, the key issue is ensuring that critical infrastructure - transport links, ports, energy systems and digital networks - remains functional and resilient under all circumstances.

"EU support for strategic connectivity corridors must continue, including in the Danube and Black Sea regions," Boneva said, adding that strengthening the EU's eastern border regions means strengthening the foundations of the common European home.