Bulgaria will seek permission from the European Commission to get priority treatment for projects seeking funding under the Rural Development Program on the territory of the flood-hit southern towns of Harmanli and Svilengrad.

According to a Friday statement of the Agriculture Ministry, the program sets out measures allowing small municipalities to apply  for funding with projects for the construction and repair of infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage, road surfaces, public buildings, etc.

"The program has been drafted so as not to violate the principles of fair competition, meaning that permission from the EC will be required to prioritize projects in certain rural areas", the press office of the Agriculture Ministry explained.

Although the Harmanli Municipality falls within the scope of the program, it has no approved projects at this stage.

The Harmanli Municipality can also take advantage of a maximum of EUR 10 M in investments in water supply and sewerage.

The Svilengrad Municipality can also submit projects for water supply and sewerage, road surfaces, sports facilities, etc., according to the press release of the Agriculture Ministry.

On February 06, the village of Biser, Harmanli municipality, was hit by massive flooding after the wall of the Ivanovo dam collapsed.

The accident killed 10, with the last two, an elderly couple who had gone missing on Monday, found dead on Friday.

Svilengrad and a number of other villages in the region also got flooded after the Maritsa River' s left dike collapsed on Tueasday.

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