Bulgaria to pay some EUR 70 mln in case of delays with the construction of Danube Bridge 2

Bulgaria might be penalised with up to €70 mln if the construction of Danube Bridge is not completed within the scheduled deadline of 29 November this year, stated Ivan Valkov, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Information Technologies and Communications, after the parliamentary control session. In fact, the Transport Minister, Ivaylo Moscovski reported that the construction cost of the facility would increase by €25.772 mln. Besides, a contract on the new cost of the facility is due to be signed between the assignor and the building contractor, the Spanish FCC company.

The decision on the price hike and the extension of the deadline for the construction implementation was issued in the middle of last year, while the European Commission actually approved it at the end of 2011. Now the decision must be ratified by the National Assembly. Valkov said that the actual reasons for the price hike remain still unclear and therefore he demanded a parliamentary discussion to be held on the topic. The debate was scheduled for January 27 during the parliamentary control session. "There are measures that should have been taken long time before in order to avoid such serious construction delays and to prevent a new lagging behind in the scheduled construction works. In fact, the public debate can accelerate the construction implementation of the Danube Bridge 2," commented also the Chairman of the parliamentary Transport Committee.

Ivaylo Moscovski explained that additional funds would be allocated from the reserve for contingent  expenses projected in the Financial Memorandum under the ISPA programme, which is granting funds for the Bridge construction. The clauses in the supplementary agreement stipulated that the grants should be transferred for construction works, partial revision of the technical project as well as for investment in equipment and labour force, which activities could be calculated as eligible costs.

The initial contract for construction of Danube Bridge 2 allows for the absorption of overall €56 mln out of €70 mln projected under the ISPA programme, explained also Moskovksi. After the signing of the additional agreement, Bulgaria will receive the additional grant of €8 mln.

Прочети цялата новина

Свързани новини: