On June 15, 2011, the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds held a Hearing of the Minister in charge of the EU funds management Mr. Tomislav Donchev on the progress under the Operational Programs, the effectiveness of the functioning Management and Control Systems for the European funds in the country and the debate on the new EU Cohesion Policy. The status under the Norway Cooperation Program and the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism has also been discussed.
The more important aspects of the Committee Meeting can be summarized as follows:
• The total amount of funds paid at the end of May 2011 under the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism forms about 9,2 mln. euro and 12,2 mln. euro for the Norway Cooperation Program. Memoranda of Understanding for the implementation of the two funding sources in the new programming period 2009 – 2014 will be signed shortly. The total amount of funds allocated to the country will be 126,6 mln. euro.

• The total number of the concluded grant award contracts under the “Technical Assistance” Operational Program 2007 – 2013 at the end of May 2011 is 45. The Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds Ms. Monika Panayotova recalled the recommendation of the Committee from the presentation of the Annual Report on the Absorption of the EU Funds in the Republic of Bulgaria for 2010 concerning the opportunity for electronic project application and reporting. In this relation Minister Tomislav Donchev informed the MPs that the “Technical Assistance” Operational Program 2007 – 2013 Managing Authority launches the electronic submission of project proposals. The pilot electronically submitted project dates from June 15, 2011. Efforts are also being put for the creation of opportunity for electronic submission of applications under other Operational Programs;

• In the marking of the overall effectiveness in the management and control of the European Funds Minister Tomislav Donchev put an accent on few main issues, incl.: legislative amendments undertaken, current implementation status (at the end of May 2011) of the Indicative Annual Work Programs for 2011 and the LOTHAR forecasts under the Operational Programs. Minister Tomislav Donchev forecasted the reaching of 63,31% contracting rate and 20,11% payment rate under the Operational programs by December 31, 2011;

• With the amendments to the Public Procurement Law another recommendation of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds concerning the maximum unification of the applicable procedures (incl. the introduction of standard forms of documents) has been addressed. Minister Tomislav Donchev announced that in the coming months active efforts will be put in the elaboration of standard forms of documents with the collaboration and of the Bulgarian Construction Chamber;

• The progress in the debate on the future EU Cohesion Policy 2014 – 2020 has also been presented;

• The development in the negotiations with the European Commission on the opportunity for the country to benefit from Technical Assistance provided by the International Financing Institutions (funded by the Operational Programs) has also been discussed;

• The status under the so called “Bulgarian JASPERS” Initiative that will be funded under the “Technical Assistance” Operational Program 2007 – 2013 has also been commented.

The presentation and discussion of the information during the Meeting is a part of the series of hearings before the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds aimed at exerting political control over the activity of the state administration structures engaged in the management of the European funds in the country. The materials and the debates of the meetings will be used in the elaboration of the Interim and Annual Reports of the Committee on the absorption of the EU funds in the Republic of Bulgaria.

The Report from the hearing can be found at (available only in Bulgarian):

http://www.parliament.bg/bg/parliamentarycommittees/members/240/reports/ID/2793