site.btaDeputy PM Pekanov: "Bulgaria Will Get BGN 20 Bln-Plus under EU Cohesion Policies"

Addressing the kick-off conference for a EC-backed BTA project titled "EU in BG: Cohesion Future", Bulgarian caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds Management Atanas Pekanov said here on Thursday that Bulgaria will receive BGN 20 billion-plus under the EU cohesion policies. He specified that one third of the EU financial resources are earmarked for cohesion programmes, adding that the disbursement of these funds is not subject to such demanding conditions as those under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. .

"We must cite the good examples so that citizens would be aware how these funds reach them in all priority spheres: education, regional policy, social policy, economic development, speeding up GDP growth," the Deputy PM pointed out. 

He noted that cohesion funds are often used to address short-term crises like the pandemic, energy crisis, and Russia's aggression in Ukraine. "We must find a solution to these crises but cohesion funds must become a long-term investment policy of the EU so as to assist the regions that confront challenges. Long-term projects will make us stronger and more resilient tomorrow," Pekanov said.

He reported that eight of the ten operational programmes have been approved, and approval of the remaining two is expected. The Deputy PM dismissed as speculation the allegation that the process has been delayed and explained that a number of EU regulations had to be amended because of the pandemic.