Michael Humphreys (R), the Head of EC Representation in Bulgaria, and Lyubomir Datsov(L), Deputy Finance Minister, signed five financial memoranda between Bulgaria and the European Commission under Phare. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agenc
Bulgaria will receive a total of EUR 42 M for cross-border cooperation under Phare for 2006, the last year for funds allotment under the European Commission programme.
Michael Humphreys, Head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria, and Lyubomir Datsov, Bulgaria's Deputy Finance Minister, signed March 14 five financial memoranda between Bulgaria and the European Commission under the Phare cross-border cooperation programme with Greece, Romania, Macedonia and Serbia and Turkey.
The official ceremony was attended by the Ambassadors of Romania Mihail Rosianu and Serbia Danilo Vucetic.
The instruments total EUR 42 M (EUR 20 M aid of cooperation with Greece, EUR 3 M with Macedonia, EUR 8 M with Romania, EUR 7 M with Turkey and EUR 4 M with Serbia). Co-financing from the national budget comes to EUR 10,205 M.
This signing of financial memoranda between Bulgaria and the European Commission under Phare programme is the last for the country after its accession to the European Union at the beginning of the year, Michael Humphreys said.
He stressed the importance of maintaining and developing good ties between people on both sides of the border and the people-to-people actions included in the memoranda.
The funds allocated so far to Bulgaria have been funnelled in projects for enhancing cross-border cooperation for transport infrastructure improvement, environment protection and tourism development.
Among the implemented projects is rehabilitation of II-86 Chepelare -Sokolovtsi, Р†-7 Yambol-Elhovo and enhancing traffic safety along Р•79, Dupnitsa - Kulata.
Bulgaria plans to build a tourist center in the Perperikon area, an ancient living region of the Thracians.