Outgoing Bulgarian EU Funds Minister: 65% Absorption Rate by end-2013 Still Realistic

Outgoing EU Funds Minister Tomislav Donchev has estimated his performance for the past three years in office as 'very good.'

Donchev, as cited by Darik radio, voiced hopes Monday that the upcoming early elections in May would not have a negative impact on EU funds absorption during the ongoing programming period, adding that the system had been adjusted to function on autopilot for some months.

Bulgaria's center-right GERB government resigned on February 20 amid mass protests against high electricity bills and low wages and the early elections have been scheduled for May 12.

In his Monday interview, Donchev was adamant that the absorption of EU funds for the 2014-2020 period had to start at the beginning of 2014.

He made clear that the resources under the Technical Assistance axes of Operational Programs Transport and Environment were being used for the preparation of projects for the next programming period, adding that the resources under the Technical Assistance axis of Operational Program Transport had been used up.

He noted that Bulgarian municipalities had a sufficient amount of ready projects for future water

Bulgaria's outgoing EU Funds Minister said that he would accept a new term in office, provided that he was offered to be "part of the right team."

He noted that an absorption target of 65% by end-2013 was realistic amid sufficient political support from the next government and no offhand experiments with the system.

He informed that a mere 37% of the total of EUR 8 B allocated to Bulgaria had been paid out so far.