Bulgaria will need at least EUR 11 B in the next programming period for EU financing – 2014 – 2020, according to the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Rosen Plevneliev.

Currently Bulgaria disposes of a total of EUR 8 B, including State co-financing.

Plevneliev spoke Tuesday, cited by the Bulgaria news agency, BTA.

On his part, the Minister for the Management of EU Funds, Tomislav Donchev, pointed out that the preparation process for the next programming period must focus both on centralization of the management of the funds on national level and their decentralization.

Donchev explained that for this reason the authorities managing the different operational programs will be merged in one universal authority, while 6 intermediary units will be located in different regions to provide direct contact with the beneficiaries.

The units will begin work in the middle of 2012 and will offer support to local administrations in the planing and the preparations of investment projects for the 2014 – 2020 period.

Donchev further informed of the possibility the EU will reduce the number of its operational programs from 6 to 5, starting in 2014 by merging the Technical Assistance and Administrative Capacity ones.

An internet poll of the Council for Public Consultations at the Parliamentary Committee for EU Affairs from June 28 among 600 respondents, mainly from the business sector, has shown that the above said programs are seen as the least important.

80% have pointed out the cumbersome application procedures as the main problem; 65% say it is the delayed payments, while 30% complain of ambiguous directions on the part of the administration.

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