site.bta50% of Funds Under Operational Programmes Have Been Contracted - Deputy PM Donchev

During Friday's Question Time in Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev said that the funds disbursed under all operational programmes amount to BGN 3.3 billion, with BGN 12 billion having been contracted - 50% of all funds. The contracting process has accelerated by 50% and the payment process, by 80%, he added. Donchev was replying to a question from the GERB-UDF parliamentary group  on the implementation of operational programmes within the framework of cohesion policy and the process of absorption of EU funding.

Donchev added that, thanks to collective efforts, the implementation of these programmes has been sped up, with funding for them constituting two-thirds of Bulgaria's EU funding.

While the Government can take some comfort from the fact that the programmes run until 2030, Donchev added that there are annual targets that must be met if Bulgaria wants to retain the funds.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Donchev, the challenges lie in the field of heavy infrastructure, including the water and sewerage, road, and rail networks. He added that the timely implementation of these programmes will depend on the level of political agreement and vision.