There is no danger of loss of funds for the operational programs

There is no danger of loss of funds for the operational programs, told a press conference MP from Coalition for Bulgaria and the former deputy prime minister responsible for EU funds Meglena Plugchieva.
Plugchieva pointed out that until 21 November this year is the deadline in which Bulgaria has to remove the gaps and to obtain a positive assessment of compliance of the operational programs in order to proceed with interim payments. She appealed to government to coordinate the governing bodies and audit authority and to send information about adjustments made to operational programs. Of 340 operational programs of the 27 member countries only 190 have received a positive assessment of compliance by the European Commission, Bulgarian operational programs are the other 150, said Plugchieva. She added that there is no danger of a return of funds from the advance payments. According to her advances resource for Bulgaria is 634 million euros, which at the time of reckoning is 130 million euros. Former Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that for the period 2007 – 2009, Bulgaria will have to absorb 2 billion and 609 million euros a year on 15 July project proposals have been $ 2 billion and 388 million euros. She added that the payments made were worth 289 million euros payments and contracts for operational programs are 50.62%. GERB on proposed changes in the Road Traffic Act relating to the National Agency „Road Infrastructure“, Plugchieva said that they are appropriate and are difficult obosnovimi. Former Transport Minister Petar Mutafchiev said that the proposed change comes two months after the audit of Napier, conducted by the European Commission. Coalition for Bulgaria recalled that after this positive assessment of the European Commission was recover the money under ISPA. It should be clear whether these changes will create a new audit of the EC, which will lead to delay action Napier, he said. According to Mutafchiev the agency’s proposed transition from primary to secondary officer will create difficulties in securing funds. Mutafchiev said that the security for which the EC has insisted, to have stable control was imposed by the Parliamentary Committee of the Supervisory Board. He noted that now is expected to cease Parliamentary Committee and Supervisory Board, and offers a one-tier management system. But if we see the functions of Chairman of the Board, the Board itself and the Minister of Regional Development appears that this will be a three-tier structure, said Mutafchiev. According to him sole functions of the Executive Director in the management be replaced by collective decisions. Napier on the proposal to pass the authority of the Minister for Regional Development, Mutafchiev argued that when it comes to balanced development of transport infrastructure, the control must be made by the Minister of Transport.

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Finance