The Bulgarian government has endorsed a plan for the absorption of EU funds in 2012 and during the next financial framework of the EU for the period 2014-2020. The Minister in charge of European funds management Tomislav Donchev said that by end-2012 Bulgaria was likely to negotiate 90 percent of funding for the 2007-2013 period and to carry out payments with 38 to 40 percent of that amount. This forecast is based on the trend of ever faster absorption of European financing over the last 2 to 3 years. “While by end-2009 we managed to make payments worth EUR 200 M under all seven operational programmes, by end-2010 that amount already grew to EUR 750 M, and in 2011 payments made doubled year-on-year reaching EUR 1.5 B or 20 percent of all funds earmarked for Bulgaria until 2013”, Minister Tomislav Donchev explains.
“The benefits for Bulgaria derived from EU accession do not boil down to funding that the county receives under the bloc’s operational programmes. By the same token, Bulgaria’s commitments do not boil down to the annual membership fee paid to the EU budget. Absorption of funds however is quite a good criterion in evaluating how successful Bulgaria’s membership of the Union actually is. I am proud to say that in the fifth year after accession there is enough proof to claim that Bulgaria is a successful EU member. I am proud of the results that Bulgaria has achieved so far in European money absorption. This however is not an achievement of the government or of a single ministry; this is an achievement of Bulgaria as a country.”
By end-2011 negotiated financing under the seven operational programmes for the period until 2013 came to EUR 5.15 B, or close to 6.5 percent of the overall financial framework. To put it in another way, 50 percent of the money for investments in Bulgaria comes from European projects. In a bit to boost absorption of European funds, the government introduces a mandatory 3-month deadline for completion of checks on submitted signals for irregularities. This has become necessary, because there have been some complicated cases of late, requiring longer time to check, and this delays project implementation. The new measure will improve European funds’ management and will clear the way for implementation of EU projects, Tomislav Donchev argues.
“Let me remind you that quoted financial figures are backed by actual results, such as roads and railroads, water treatment plants, renovated buildings, a great many projects in the social sphere that have to do with close to 10 percent of Bulgarians”, the minister recalls. “For the time being close to a half of the country’s investment resources are derived from European financing. However there are things that matter more than figures and results. As a result of the commitments made by public and private institutions. for the management of European money, we have seen improving financial discipline coupled with new standards of transparency, publicity and accountability. I hope that their example will inspire other institutions as well.
In the view of Tomislav Donchev Bulgaria’s good results in EU fund absorption for the period until 2013 and efficient control of spending funds, are both important. In this way, during the current year when financing is negotiated for the next 2014-2020 programming period, Bulgaria can supply another proof that the cohesion policy makes sense and should continue. There has been vocal opposition in EU claiming that the policy of cohesion has not been very effective. So, now, as debt crises have been raging on the continent, Europe needs strong enough arguments about cohesion benefits, Minister Donchev argues. Bulgaria stands a unique chance of showing clearly that the policy of cohesion is not charity, he says and explains that the process is not a simple transfer of money from richer to poorer nations but a way to invest and generates reciprocal benefits. Both donor and recipient countries benefit from the policy of cohesion of regions. Tomislav Donchev thinks that with regard to EU membership Bulgaria should brace for both great challenges and great opportunities. So in 2012, apart from good progress in financial performance, Bulgaria should have negotiated at least 90 percent of funds until 2013, he says. “We should keep up the excellent results in terms of a small percentage of absorption mistakes, one of the smallest across EU. And we should continue taking part in the debate on the EU cohesion policy with the same clout”, Tomislav Donchev contends.
“For Bulgaria the last six months were particularly busy as it joined actively all formal and informal meetings and all negotiations underway on the new regulations, on the financial framework for the programming period from 2014 to 2020, and on the cohesion policy in general. A year ago we worried over investment opportunities in infrastructure. It is however obvious in the finalized texts of the European Commission proposals that we will have lots of opportunities. We will have enough resources for the basic needs of the country in the social sphere, in education, innovations and energy efficiency in the next 2014-2020 programming period.”
During the next programming period the government intends to negotiate even better financial parameters in view of Bulgaria’s national interest. For the purpose it recently passed a decree that determines the structures that should work out a partnership agreement with the European Commission. The agreement will replace the national strategic framework for the 2014-2020 programming period.
Translated by Daniela Konstantinova
