„I am here to save European funds and investments in a period of extended budget.“
This was said by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Angelina Boneva. She participated in a high-level conference on the Eastern Border Regions „Ministerial Group – From the Frontline to the Future: Securing and Developing Europe's Eastern Border Regions“.
In Brussels, the Regional Minister met with Raffaele Fitto – Executive Vice-President of the EC for Cohesion and Reforms. With the partners from the commission, she discussed the progress in the implementation of the European programs implemented by the MRDPW.
„The data on the implementation of the program for the development of the regions in Bulgaria are not good, and under the Fund for Just Energy Transition "the absorption is zero", announced Minister Boneva. In her words, "we are starting from scratch and our ambitions are to achieve the indicators set in the program for the end of the year.“ “The European Commission's request is to start very intensive work“, she added and emphasized that all options are open so that our country can try to save the funds under the program for this year. According to her, it is about over 600 million euros, “for which we will have to work at full speed, but there will be European money“, was categorical Angelina Boneva.
“Our country will participate “with enormous dynamics” in the new EC plan for investments in the eastern regions of the EU, bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine”, indicated the regional minister and explained that the commission plans to secure nearly 28 billion euros of private and budget investments in our country and in another 8 countries from the eastern part of the EU for this purpose.
In his speech to the participants in the conference, the regional minister emphasized that the sustainability and stability of the Black Sea region are among the most important priorities for Bulgaria. The fact that our country is included in the European Commission's comprehensive strategy to strengthen support for the eastern regions of the EU on an equal footing with the other Member States is a clear political signal that Bulgaria is an integral part of the Union's strategic eastern border.
Minister Boneva also noted that with continued geopolitical pressure in the Black Sea region, the most important issue for us is to ensure that critical infrastructure - transport links, ports, energy systems and digital networks - will remain functional and sustainable under all circumstances. Another important priority for our country is increasing economic stability and investment security, as the eastern border regions face higher risk, which affects borrowing costs, attracting private investors and the capacity of municipalities to implement projects.
“EU support for strategic connectivity corridors, including the Danube and Black Sea regions, must continue,“ Minister Boneva said, and was categorical that strengthening the eastern border regions means strengthening the foundations of our common European home.