European Regional Development Fund

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski will launch on Thursday the BULRIS river information system monitoring the Bulgarian section of the Danube river.

The cost of the project, which was executed by the Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company, is estimated at BGN 37 M, Darik radio informs.

The European Commission has adopted a EUR 222M six-year programme aimed at strengthening cooperation and supporting projects in the Danube region.

Bulgaria's government has approved a draft version of the new operational program Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Initiative 2014-2020.

The operational program has a budget of EUR 102 M, which is to be used to provide more favorable terms for SMEs seeking debt financing, according to the press office of the Council of Ministers.

Romania has decided to allocate EUR 100 M from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)  to the SME Initiative to help the country's small businesses get better access to finance.

Bulgarian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be able to access EUR 102 M from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under a new operational program, "SME Initiative."

The project of the operational program, which seeks to boost the competitiveness of SMEs, is available online at the public consultation portal, according to reports of investor.bg.

Bulgaria's Regional Development Ministry has granted 39 municipalities a total of BGN 1.4 B under operational program Regions in Growth 2014-2020.

During an official ceremony on Monday, local authorities were authorized to select and evaluate the projects to be financed under the program.

The European Commission has given the green light to Bulgaria's last 2 operational programs in the 2014-2020 programming period, including "Environment" and "Regions in Growth."

All of Bulgaria's 7 operational programs in the 2014-2020 programming period have now been approved, with their total budget amounting to EUR 7.6 B, according to the EC pres office.

The European Commission has approved Bulgaria's operational program Innovations and Competitiveness 2014-2020, according to the press office of the EC.

The operational program has a budget of around EUR 1.39 B that is to be invested into the development of the Bulgarian economy, including EUR 1.18 B under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

EU Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Cre?u has insisted that poverty betrays a systematic error of society that can only be remedied through a holistic approach.

In an interview for the Bulgaria On Air TV channel, Romania's EU Commissioner admits that roads and infrastructure are important, just as the reduction of poverty and social inequalities.

The European Commission has notified Bulgaria that payments under operational program Regional Development 2007-2013 can now restart.

The payments were temporarily suspended so as to guarantee the efficiency of control systems.

Bulgarian authorities have received an official letter about the move, according to the EC press office.