The National Assembly has ratified on 11 December 2014 the loan agreement between Bulgaria and the European Investment Bank titled “Bulgaria – Co-Financing of EU funded projects”.

The Budget and Finance Committee report notes that this is the second structural loan provided by the European Investment Bank in order to support the government in the absorption of funds from the European Union during the program period 2014-2020. The amount of the loan is EURO 500 M. The loan will support the national financing, essentially on projects under operational programs “Transport and Transport Policies”, “Environment” and “Regional Growth”. These programs will finance strategic infrastructure projects of national importance, which are also considered priority by the EIB.

The term of the loan is 25 years, with a 7- year grace period. The loan contains options for one-time repayment, for midterm and long term acquittal of the different tranches.

The parliament has also adopted amendments to the Ownership Act extending with 3 years the term for recognizing ownership of state and municipal assets by prescription. The moratorium is deemed necessary in order to finalize the process of issuing legal deeds of state and municipal assets.

At the same sitting the National Assembly has adopted Rules of Procedure for the nomination, making public and hearing of candidates and for election of Chief Judicial Inspector in the Inspectorate of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).