Bulgaria is one of the most successful EU member states in the absorption of EU funds, said Kristian Vigenin, Chair of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European funds at the presentation of the Committee’s interim report on the absorption of EU funds under the operational programmes in the first half of 2017.

Bulgaria ranks fifth or sixth out of 28 member states in terms of funds paid out and those certified by the European Commission, said Kristian Vigenin. The good absorption of EU funds in the programming period 2014 – 2020 is due to the successful completion of the previous one, he added. Bulgaria was one of the best performing states under the programmes for the period 2007 – 2013, said Kristian Vigenin, and explained that the performance of all programmes has been over 95 per cent. We can commend the administration for running those programmes and achieving results, added the Chair of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds.

Kristian Vigenin commented that the work on the current programming period, which has been generally successful, will continue without substantial changes. However, he explained that this gives us no reason to relax and does not mean that there are no problems that call for additional recommendations and action, including on the part of the National Assembly and the Committee.

The report of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds contains brief information about the completion and implementation of projects in the period 2007 – 2013 as well as the information by 30 June 2017 on the eight operational programmes, and the two programmes from the European Agricultural Fund and the European Fund for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries for the period 2014 – 2020. It is available on the website of the National Assembly at: http://www.parliament.bg/pub/cW/20171013093905%D0%9C%D0%94%202017_F.pdf