We need to set up the main political and economic parameters of Europe 2030. It is our responsibility to have an open debate focused on how to outrun our global competitors and to promote EU as a global player instead of just filling in the “budgetary gaps" coming from the new challenges. This was stated by the Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev in front of the members of the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels.
The efforts to achieve convergence between the European regions must continue. We need a clear European perspective for the Western Balkans. This was a statement by the Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev in the European Parliament’s REGI Committee, where he presented the priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency and the vision for the debate on the future of Cohesion Policy.
As Bulgaria gets ready to take over the EU presidency in January 2018, Tomislav Donchev,Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds and Economic Policies, adds his views to the current debate on Cohesion Policy post-2020 and the importance of European solidarity.
How important have the EU Cohesion Funds been for Bulgarian citizens since Bulgaria's accession to the EU 10 years ago? Could you highlight a few projects in particular?
Three key railway stations will be modernized with funds under Transport and Transport Infrastructure 2014-2020 Operational Program (OPTTI). The project for reconstruction of the stations Poduyane, Iskar and Kazitchene was approved at the total amount of 7.4 million leva, 6.6 million of them being grants.
The waiting areas and adjacent platforms will be refurbished, the construction state of buildings will be improved, energy efficiency systems, as well as modern information and announcement equipment, will be deployed, and green areas will be rehabilitated.
In the next few months we will define the scope of the projects in the transport sector, which will be implemented in the period 2021-2027. This was announced by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rosen Zhelyazkov during an international conference "European Solidarity in EU Investment Policy". The event is organized by the Regional Development Committee of the European Parliament and the Chamber of Builders in Bulgaria.
Next year will be crucial for the implementation of large projects financed under OP Transport and Transport Infrastructure, stated the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Rossen Jeliazkov, at the 10th session of the OP Monitoring committee, 29-30.11.2018 in the town of Pravets.
86% of the modernization of the railway section Skutare - Orizovo is completed. This was stated by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov at the time of the project inspection. The 26-kilometer stretch between Skutare and Orizovo will be completed early next year, the minister added.
The European Commission allocated 293 million euros for the modernization of the railway line between the cities of Plovdiv and Bourgas. The rehabilitation of the 293-kilometer section, which was initiated in the past programing period under Op Transport 2007 – 2013, will be completed with the funding.
Experts and practitioners from several European countries shared experiences and discussed ideas at a dedicated workshop on the evaluation of programmes funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds.
The team of the Operational Programme "Environment 2014-2020" (OPE) at the Ministry of Environment and Water in Bulgaria started a 3D Video Mapping Campaign, which presents in an attractive way the significance of the measures implemented under the programme. Beautiful animations recreate a true spectacle, a combination of love for nature and the mastery of technological art. The creative project tells about the path of water and beauty and diversity in nature throughout. This is the first campaign of this magnitude implemented by the OP Environment.
