The proposals for changes in the Recovery and Resilience Plan ( PVU) are related to some investments that cannot be implemented until the end of the plan period - August 2026. The proposals are to direct funds to projects that are of national importance, can be implemented and financial resources will not be wasted.
This was stated at a briefing in the Council of Ministers by the Acting Minister of Finance, Ludmila Petkova, who gave details of the changes proposed by the Council of Ministers to the PVA, which had to be voted on in the Parliament yesterday, and battle scenes were reached, in which the MPs from "Vazrazhdane" ;, "There is such a people" and the BSP blocked the rostrum of the National Assembly and failed the meeting.
Two decisions were submitted to the National Assembly. The first decision is related to the Climate Neutrality Roadmap and is in relation to the second payment under the EPA.
Bulgaria is the only country in the EU that received only the first payment. The second payment has not been paid because it is related to reforms, one of which is precisely the Road Map.
If it is not accepted, it means that there will be financial corrections in the amount of 266 million euros, which is more than 30% of the second payment in the amount of 653 million euros.
The second decision is related to giving the interim government a mandate to continue negotiations with the EC on the changes in the PVA, so that funds under the RePower chapter in the amount of 479 million euros are not lost. The EC needs time to adopt the changes in the PVA. At the latest, these changes must be sent by October 15-20 so that Bulgaria does not lose funds," Petkova announced.
"The worst hypothesis is that we will lose several billions on the PVU. If the RAP is not changed and funds are not provided for the started projects, they must be completed with funds from the national budget. We are talking about 5-6% and you can calculate for yourself how much money will be lost. We may have to return part of the funds from the first payment if the reforms started are not completed. To date, these funds in the draft budget for 2025 have not been included and calculated, because we believed that the National Assembly would accept both changes. Currently, the MC does not have a mandate to continue the negotiations with the EC, and we have nothing to do. There is also a significant risk of going beyond the Maastricht criteria", Ludmila Petkova was categorical.
"Regarding buffer parking lots along the border, a working group was formed by order of Prime Minister Glavchev. A complete analysis was made, including the property. We will come out with a report. We will propose long-term measures that include the construction of state buffer parking lots, organization of traffic and queues. Short-term measures include a number of meetings with our neighboring countries. We are developing a comprehensive strategy for the modernization of the border crossing," concluded the finance minister.