[size=75:b7l7853b]novinite 15 January 2010

EC: Bulgaria Is Last in EU Funds Absorption

Bulgaria ranks last from all EU Member Stares in absorbing the EU program funds, Jean Marie Seiler from the EC informs.

Seiler, who is the Director of the Main Directorate “Regional Policy” at the European Commission, is on a trip to Bulgaria Friday for the fifth meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the National Strategic Referent Framework.

The EC expert pointed out that Bulgaria as a new EU member lacks the necessary experience, adding even older members lose funds and the EU was going to help Bulgaria to absorb them faster.

“The EC has a strict rule – funds are granted with a firm deadline. If a country misses this deadline, we take the funds back,” Seiler said.

In addition, Bulgaria is also behind with the projects themselves, especially large infrastructure ones, Seiler explained but gave some positive examples such as the “Trakya” highway and the Sofia metro.

“Because of the delay during the current period, which expires in 2013, Bulgaria forgets something very important – the preparation for a project requires 3 to 4 years and you must begin working on the 2014 – 2020 projects now,” the Director says.

Seiler appealed to the EC Bulgarian partners to use the EU funds more effectively and honestly and to inform about both achievements and problems because the EU taxpayers need to know their money is used accordingly.