Bulgaria will pay BGN 4 M less to the EU's 6th Framework Program, it emerged after a meeting between Education Minister Daniel Vulchev and EU Commissioner Janez Potocnik.

The 6th Framework Program is EU' key instrument for developing science and researches. After wrapping up in the end of 2006, a new funds-boosted scheme will take effect under the name of 7th Framework Program.

The payment of annual fee is indispensable for each EU member and aspirant state to be entitled to receive an allocation of the EU accession and pre-accession funds in the field of education and science.

Janez Potocnik has opened his two-day visit here in a key moment when Bulgaria reviews its 6th Framework Program participation and gets ready for the next seven-year period of EU funding into science and research.

The Union plans about EUR 45 B funding for supporting the science.

Commissioner Potocnik said the EU considers the option that financing under the pre-accession and cohesion funds is allotted predominantly for the development of science. Yet, it is up to each country to decide on the priority of allotment of these funds, Janez Potocnik noted.

Asked whether Bulgaria would manage to meet the Lisbon criteria of dishing out 3% of GDP for science and education, Minister Daniel Vulchev said this problem challenges not only Bulgaria, but the Union as a whole.

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