Norway to grant us three times more money due to better absorption

“Bulgaria will absorb 70% of the money from the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Norwegian Cooperation Programme,” EU Funds Management Minister Tomislav Donchev forecast during a conference yesterday. In the next programming period 2011-2016, our country will be allocated €126 mln. “Bulgaria will be among the five countries that will receive the highest amount of money, along with Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania,” said H.E. Tove Skarstein, Ambassador of Norway to Bulgaria. The terms and priority areas for funding will be known by the end of June. A change in co-financing by private companies is being considered as well. It is about 40% at present- 10% for NGOs and 5% for the public sector.

“Some 60%, or about €22 mln, has been absorbed under the programme so far. The absorption rate would have even be greater had the allocation of funds not been blocked in 2008, when EU funding was suspended,” added Minister Donchev. Some 30 out of all the 70 projects have been fully completed and the allocated money exceed €9 mln. Projects in the healthcare sector boast the highest absorption rate. The funded projects are in the spheres of environment, development of human resources, healthcare, cultural heritage and energy efficiency.

The new draft Bill of the Public Procurement Act will be discussed today by the Council of Ministers. Mr. Donchev’s team has proposed to seek argumentation if a price 20% lower than the average is offered at public procurement tenders. “This is now valid for bids which are 30% lower than the average and the issue is expected to be decided at the Council of Ministers’ meeting,” added Tanya Hristova, Head of Mr. Donchev’s office.

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