site.btaDeputy PM Donchev: Bulgaria Has Invested BGN 2.6 Bln under National Recovery and Resilience Plan

Deputy Prime Minister and Innovation and Growth Minister Tomislav Donchev Thursday said Bulgaria had managed to invest BGN 2.6 billion under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) and was set to double that amount by the year's end. He spoke to reporters during a visit to Sofia's Sveta Ekaterina University Hospital in connection with a project for building an air ambulance system under the RRP. He was accompanied by Health Minister Silvi Kirilov and European Commission representatives.

"This project started with a value of just over EUR 50 million, but since it is one of the ongoing projects, its value was increased by EUR 24 million," Donchev said. "The most important thing now is that Bulgaria has managed to invest BGN 2.6 billion from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and this money is yielding results."

Donchev expressed his ambition that these funds should at least double in payments by the end of the year, so that the country reaches at least BGN 5 billion disbursed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. "The deadline is August 31, 2026, and despite the dire state in which we found things, we are determined to disburse all the funds and invest in the Bulgarian economy and Bulgarian society," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Asked if there was a delay in the project for establishing an air ambulance system, Donchev said there is no delay and the project is making good progress. That is why it was not dropped and even received additional funding.

The National Recovery and Resilience Plan includes hundreds of projects covering all sectors of social and economic life, from business support initiatives to measures for energy efficiency in residential buildings, railway transport, targeted support for science, and above all, measures related to decarbonization and the green transition, Donchev said.

The visit is part of a two-day mission by the European Commission to Bulgaria, led by Celine Gauer, Director-General of the Recovery and Resilience Task Force (RECOVER). The aim is to discuss the next steps for the timely implementation of planned reforms and investments, following the July 2 approval of Bulgaria's revised Recovery and Resilience Plan. This also includes the upcoming steps related to submitting the second and third payment requests by the year's end.