EU Commission Approves EUR 216 M Program On Romania and Bulgaria's Border Regions

EU Commissioner on Regional Policy Corina Cre?u has approved the new Interreg trans border program, aimed at assisting 15 border regions across Bulgaria and Romania to create better living, studying and work conditions for their citizens. It will also focus on making the locations more attractive for investments.

The Bulgarian municipalities included in the program are Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Silistra and Dobrich.

The total value of the project is estimated at EUR 258 M, with EUR 216 M provided by the European Regional Development Fund.

Among main priorities set in the program are improving work qualifications of the citizens in the region, integration in terms of labor mobility as well as increasing risk management capacities during natural disasters.

Earlier today, Regional Minister Liliana Pavlova announced that Bulgaria will need additional BGN 870 M to reinforce areas at risk of landslides. The disasters were caused after numerous torrential rains in the country, and have caused BGN 22 M damages to road infrastructure in the country.