Urgent reform of Bulgaria's planning districts is needed, local authorities insist.The current regionalization shows increasing economic imbalances in terms of EU grant assistance. The problem is particularly severe in the Southwestern region, which includes Sofia city. According to the EU cohesion rules, when a region's GDP per capita reaches 100% of the EU average, the regions receive 30% co-financing for EU programs.
In the Southwestern region, due to Sofia's indicators, the coverage is 100%. Transitional regions, with a GDP between 75% and 100% of the EU average, receive 60% grant aid, while underdeveloped regions receive 85%. In Sofia city, the GDP per capita is close to 130% of the EU average, which affects the neighboring districts – Sofia District, Pernik, Kyustendil and Blagoevgrad, where the coverage is between 54% and 31%. The bundling of these districts with the capital city limits their access to EU funds.
International rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Bulgaria's long-term foreign and local currency credit rating at BBB with a positive outlook, the Finance Ministry said. The positive outlook reflects the country's prospects for eurozone..
In 2023, Bulgaria's GDP growth was 1.9% higher in real terms compared to 2022. This is 0.1 percent more than the initially announced growth of 1.8%, the National Statistical Institute has reported. The chairman of the institute,..
In Brussels, Bulgaria and North Macedonia reaffirmed their commitment to continue the construction of Railway Corridor No. 8 under the TEN-T Regulation, reported the European Commission’s Directorate General for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement..
The final price at which Bulgargaz will sell natural gas in December to end suppliers and to persons with a license for the production and transmission..
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