Structural Funds

EU Cohesion Policy and Operational programme “Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy”

The European Union conducts a policy of economic and social cohesion, the purpose of which is decreasing the differences in the economic and social development of the regions and encouraging their development and the structural changes, leading to changes of the economic and social life, through support of poorer and more problematic regions.

The main issues for conduction of the Cohesion policy are described in the Community Strategic Guidelines, adopted in July 2005. The purpose of the Guidelines is to integrate EC priorities into national and regional development programmes, based on Lisbon Agenda.

After accession to EU, Bulgaria will receive financial resources under three European funds – European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF) and Cohesion Fund (CF).

The general priorities for the development of the country and the overall objective for absorption of funds are described in the National Strategic reference Framework (NSRF), elaborated by the Executive Agency for Economic Analyses and Forecast and the Central Coordination Unit – “Management of EU Funds” Directorate within the Ministry of Finance. The NSRF describes the strategy for the development of Bulgaria and the operational issues for its implementation.

The frame of the NSRF includes operational programmes that describe in details the problems in a certain area, priorities and objectives to be achieved through the Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund assistance. The Managing Authorities of the OPs are responsible for the elaboration, negotiation with EC and implementation of the programme documents.