site.btaRegional Development Minister Reports on OP "Regions in Growth" Progress

A total of 543 projects funded under the Operational Programme (OP) "Regions in Growth" 2014-2020 have been successfully completed to date, and the funds for them have been verified by the European Commission.  This means that 70% of all projects funded in the past programming period of the OP have been fully completed.

The information came from caretaker Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Shishkov, as quoted by his ministry, which manages the programme. On Thursday, Shishkov opened the annual information event of the OP.  

He reported that the OP, which is at the end of its implementation, is progressing at a very good pace. So far, more than BGN 2.293 billion or 73% of the programme's budget, which is more than BGN 3 billion, has been disbursed.  The certified funds submitted to the Commission and approved by it as eligible amount to BGN 1.893 billion or 60% of the budget. A total of 765 financial assistance contracts have been concluded under the OP, and 222 are in the process of implementation.

To date, 85 projects for educational infrastructure and 244 for energy efficiency in residential and administrative buildings have been implemented. There are 48 completed projects for the renovation and modernisation of the urban environment in the country's major municipalities, 70 contracts were finalised to support the deinstitutionalisation of children and adults, and 27 for the renovation and modernisation of road infrastructure.

The annual information event of the OP was held at the National Academy of Arts, in the building of the educational campus, renovated with funding from the programme. It was also attended by Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Desislava Georgieva and the Rector of the Academy, Prof. Georgi Yankov.

Speaking to journalists, Deputy Minister Georgieva said that a 15% indexation of the construction contracts under the OP is already under way. Payments have already been made by the beneficiaries to the companies with the increased prices. Georgieva expects construction to return to normal pace this way.