At first the cabinet cut eight projects from the recovery plan
The government proposes to the European Commission a cutting off the National Eight Project Recovery Plan. This happens because they have not been started a process of implementation and there is no chance that they will be completed by the end of August 2026. They are worth a total of BGN 1.02 billion. Alternative funding has been found for three of them, and for the rest, it will be sought, said the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav. The list will be sent to the European Commission in the first days of April.
Another 22 projects for approximately BGN 2 billion are threatened, but there is no public list of exactly what they are. Donchev added to the media that he sees the chance half of them will be fulfilled and gives them « a few weeks for mobilization ».
It will not go on vacation, it will work.
Tomislav DonchevDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth
It also needs to be accepted the liberalization of the electricity market for every year, but it was postponed by one year, and now Donchev said « is not a topic in talks with the European Commission at the moment. » He added that the insistence of the European Commission to remove the electricity system operator (ESO) from the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) would be the topic « further ». GERB are against the rocade.
« We continue the change » expects GERB to accept measures on the recovery plan for the risk of budget to explode
According to the plan, Bulgaria must receive nine payments under the recovery plan. However, the government may only ask for two a year, but because of the short term until mid -2026, they are likely to be united.
According to Donchev, Bulgaria has a chance to complete about 70% of the pledged projects.
Among the projects that drop at first, the renovation program does not enter. It is performed at many different speeds, with its progress depending on the willingness of the local government. According to Donchev, the « fast » mayors will probably implement the program with European money, which, however, are related to more regulations and bureaucracy, and the rest that is delayed – with national funding.
Will Bulgaria miss the European money to renovate buildings
What are the projects that drop?
- The largest project that drops out of the recovery plan is the pilot for combined heat production and electricity from geothermal energy. The investment was worth BGN 343 million and aimed at updating the geothermal potential of Bulgaria.
- The project for water and sewerage systems for BGN 300 million is also eliminated, which will, however, be funded with European money from the Operational Program « Environment ». The program was for small settlements with residents between 5 and 10 thousand people.
- The modernization of the Center for Aerospace Observations for BGN 111 million is also eliminated, with funding with European funds, but only BGN 40 million.
- The pilot project for BGN 64 million for the production of green hydrogen is also eliminated.
- The program for BGN 63 million for train control equipment will also not be implemented with money under the recovery plan.
- The project for BGN 62 million is also eliminated for digitalization of the administrative registers.
- The project for nearly BGN 47 million is also eliminated to improve the National Emergency Call system 112.
- The project for the integration of protected areas around Natura 2000 for BGN 30 million is also eliminated. It is planned to be funded with European money from the Operational Program « Environment ».
