1. 1 MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTORATE GENERAL PROGRAMMING OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Operational Programme Regional Development 2007-2013

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3. 3 OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: TOTAL BUDGET - 1,601 billion euro European Regional Development Fund – 1, 361 billion euro National funding – 240 million euro OVERALL OBJECTIVE: Enhancing the quality of life and working environment with better access to basic services and creating new opportunities for improved regional competitiveness and sustainable development

4. 4 The Operational Programme provides opportunities for support of activities under 5 priority axes: 1.Sustainable and integrated urban development - 839 mln euro (52.4 %) 2.Regional and local accessibility - 400 mln euro (25 %) 3.Sustainable tourism development - 218 mln euro (13.62 %) 4.Local development and cooperation - 89 mln euro (5.6 %) 5.Technical assistance - 54 mln euro (3.38 %)

5. 5 Priority Axis 1 Sustainable and Integrated Urban Development  Operation 1.1: Social Infrastructure  Operation 1.2: Housing  Operation 1.3: Organisation of Economic Activities  Operation 1.4: Physical Environment and Risk Prevention  Operation 1.5: Sustainable Urban Transportation Systems

6. 6 Priority Axis 2 Regional and Local Accessibility  Operation 2.1: Regional and Local Road Infrastructure  Operation 2.2: ICT Networks  Operation 2.3: Access to Sustainable and Efficient Energy Resources

7. 7 Priority Axis 3 Sustainable Tourism Development  Operation 3.1: Enhancement of Tourist Attractions and Related Infrastructure  Operation 3.2: Regional Tourism Product Development and Marketing of Destinations  Operation 3.3: International Tourism Marketing

8. 8 Priority Axis 4 Local Development and Co-operation  Operation 4.1: Small-scale Local Investments  Operation 4.2: Inter-regional Co-operation

9. 9 Priority Axis 5 Technical Assistance  Operation 5.1: Management, Monitoring, Evaluation and Control  Operation 5.2: Communication, Information and Publicity  Operation 5.3: Capacity Building of OPRD Beneficiaries

10. 10  November 5 th 2007 – Approval of the OPRD by the European Commission with Decision No C(2007)5440/05.11.2007;  November 14 th 2007 – Official start of OPRD in Sofia:  Parallel conferences in the 6 regions of Bulgaria  November 15 th 2007 – first official session of the OPRD Monitoring Committee:

11. 11  Established and functioning Structures of Managing Authority of the OPRD are: 6 regional departments in the centres of the regions – Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, Varna, Ruse, Vidin. Within each department there is division of the functions and responsibilities, respectively – communication and publicity experts, implementation experts, financial experts, monitoring experts; 6 regional departments in the centres of the regions – Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, Varna, Ruse, Vidin. Within each department there is division of the functions and responsibilities, respectively – communication and publicity experts, implementation experts, financial experts, monitoring experts; At central level – Programming and Assessment Department, Monitoring Department, Implementation of Programme Priorities Department, Financial Management and Control Department, Legislation, Risk Assessment and Irregularities Department, Organizational Development, Information and Publicity Department. At central level – Programming and Assessment Department, Monitoring Department, Implementation of Programme Priorities Department, Financial Management and Control Department, Legislation, Risk Assessment and Irregularities Department, Organizational Development, Information and Publicity Department.

12. 12  Announcements of 16 Grant Schemes with a total amount of 1 472 300 069 BGN: BG161PO001/1.1-01/2007 Support for provision of appropriate and reliable educational, social and cultural infrastructure contributing to development of sustainable urban areas. BG161PO001/1.1-01/2007 Support for provision of appropriate and reliable educational, social and cultural infrastructure contributing to development of sustainable urban areas. BG161PO001/1.1-02/2007 Support for provision of appropriate and reliable state educational infrastructure contributing to development of sustainable urban areas BG161PO001/1.1-02/2007 Support for provision of appropriate and reliable state educational infrastructure contributing to development of sustainable urban areas BG161PO001/1.1-03/2007 Support for provision of appropriate and effective state social infrastructure contributing to development of sustainable urban areas BG161PO001/1.1-03/2007 Support for provision of appropriate and effective state social infrastructure contributing to development of sustainable urban areas BG161PO001/1.1-04/2007 Support for provision of appropriate and effective infrastructure of labour offices contributing to development of sustainable urban areas BG161PO001/1.1-04/2007 Support for provision of appropriate and effective infrastructure of labour offices contributing to development of sustainable urban areas

13. 13 BG161PO001/1.1-05/2008 Support for provision of appropriate and reliable state cultural infrastructure contributing to development of sustainable urban areas BG161PO001/1.1-05/2008 Support for provision of appropriate and reliable state cultural infrastructure contributing to development of sustainable urban areas BG161PO001/1.4-01/2007 Support for restriction and prevention of risk and damages caused by fire in urban agglomeration areas BG161PO001/1.4-01/2007 Support for restriction and prevention of risk and damages caused by fire in urban agglomeration areas BG161PO001/1.4-02/2008 Support for improvement of urban environment BG161PO001/1.4-02/2008 Support for improvement of urban environment BG161PO001/1.4-03/2008 Support for establishment and strengthening of small scale infrastructure for land slides prevention in urban agglomerations BG161PO001/1.4-03/2008 Support for establishment and strengthening of small scale infrastructure for land slides prevention in urban agglomerations

14. 14 BG161PO001/2.1-01/2007 Support for rehabilitation and reconstruction of second class and third class roads BG161PO001/2.1-01/2007 Support for rehabilitation and reconstruction of second class and third class roads BG161PO001/2.1-02/2007 Support for sustainable and integrated urban development through rehabilitation and reconstruction of municipal road network BG161PO001/2.1-02/2007 Support for sustainable and integrated urban development through rehabilitation and reconstruction of municipal road network BG161PO001/3.1-01/2008 Support for cultural monuments of national and world significance contributing to sustainable tourism development BG161PO001/3.1-01/2008 Support for cultural monuments of national and world significance contributing to sustainable tourism development BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008 Support for effective national marketing of tourist product and improvement of information services BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008 Support for effective national marketing of tourist product and improvement of information services

15. 15 BG161PO001/4.1-01/2007 Support for provision of appropriate and reliable educational infrastructure contributing to sustainable local development BG161PO001/4.1-01/2007 Support for provision of appropriate and reliable educational infrastructure contributing to sustainable local development BG161PO001/4.2-02/2008 Support for interregional cooperation and exchange of good practices BG161PO001/4.2-02/2008 Support for interregional cooperation and exchange of good practices BG161PO001/4.1-02/2008 Support for establishment and strengthening of small-scale infrastructure for landslides prevention BG161PO001/4.1-02/2008 Support for establishment and strengthening of small-scale infrastructure for landslides prevention BG161PO001/5.1-01/2007 Technical assistance for preparation, management, monitoring, evaluation, information, control and strengthening the administrative capacity for implementation of OP Regional Development 2007-2013 BG161PO001/5.1-01/2007 Technical assistance for preparation, management, monitoring, evaluation, information, control and strengthening the administrative capacity for implementation of OP Regional Development 2007-2013

16. 16  Announced procedures under OPRD Priority Axis 1: Sustainable and integrated urban development

17. 17 Number of submitted projects 274 Number of approved projects 109 Number of contracts signed 57 Grant Scheme amount of contracts signed 222 169 734,80 Results of Grant Scheme BG161PO001/1.1-01/2007 Support for provision of appropriate and reliable educational, social and cultural infrastructure contributing to development of sustainable urban areas :

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19. 19  Announced procedures under OPRD Priority Axis 2: Regional and local accessibility

20. 20  Submitted and approved projects under Grant Scheme BG161PO001/2.1 - 02/2007 Support for sustainable and integrated local development through rehabilitation and reconstruction of municipal road network

21. 21 Grant Scheme BG161PO001/2.1-02/2007 results TOTALNWNCNESESCSW Number of submitted projects737814132011 Number of contracts signed28256537 Reconstructed and rehabilitated roads/ fourth-class road network in km. 304.8015.3162.5978.4834.2527.2086.57

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23. 23  Announced procedures under OPRD Priority Axis 3: Sustainable tourism development

24. 24 On January 27th, 2009 the Ministry of Culture submitted a Mid- term framework investment programme and 5 project fiches. The programme amount is to the extent of 22 376 294,30 BGN and the project fiches are at an amount of 7 641 608 BGN. On September 30, 2008 the State Tourism Agency submitted a Mid-term framework investment programme and 6 project fiches. The Mid-term framework programme and 6 project fiches successfully passed all stages of evaluation and on December 9, 2008 a Framework agreement and six contracts were signed for at the amount of 39 519 260 BGN.

25. 25  Announced procedures under OPRD Priority Axis 4: local development and cooperation

26. 26  Submitted and approved projects under Grant Scheme BG161PO001/4.1- 01/2007 Support for the provision of appropriate and reliable educational infrastructure contributing to sustainable local development

27. 27 Grant Scheme BG161PO001/4.1-01/2007 results TOTALNWNCNESESCSW Number of submitted projects 156332719172931 Number of contracts signed 52137102146 Amount of funding for contracts signed49 021 579, 86 12 021 566, 86 6 806 812, 599 390 788, 57 1 967 902, 6313 100 845, 345 733 663, 87 Number of children from Roma minority390114083071275346259306 Number of children from Turkish minority 37993203391363 1447330 Economy of energy (Megawatt Hours per Year)61 467,8334291,3166091,3852518,7221364,90443 686,1663515,34

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29. 29 Grant scheme BG161PO001/4.2-01/2008 Support for interregional cooperation and exchange of good practices Deadline: 30.10.2008 Received project proposals: 126 BG161PO001/4.1-02/2008 Support for establishment and strengthening of small-scale infrastructure for landslides prevention Grant scheme BG161PO001/4.1-02/2008 Support for establishment and strengthening of small-scale infrastructure for landslides prevention Deadline: 9.01.2009 Received project proposals: 24

30. 30 BG161PO001/5-01/2008 Technical assistance for preparation, management, monitoring, evaluation, information, control and strengthening the administrative capacity for implementation of OP Regional Development 2007-2013 Component 1 Programming, management, monitoring, assessment and control – Component 1 Programming, management, monitoring, assessment and control – 47 180 657 BGN Component 2 Communication, information and publicity – Component 2 Communication, information and publicity – 19 558 300 BGN Component 3 Capacity building for OPRD beneficiaries – Component 3 Capacity building for OPRD beneficiaries – 39 116 600 BGN  23 projects submitted Projects that passed successfully the stage of evaluation – 14 Projects that passed successfully the stage of evaluation – 14 Approved projects – 13 Approved projects – 13 Projects not approved for funding – 1 Projects not approved for funding – 1

31. 31 Priority Axis Total budget of the Priority Axis (mln. BGN) Number of projects approved for financing Grant Scheme amount for approved projects Number of contracts signed Grant Scheme amount for financed projects (in BGN) 1. Sustainable and integrated urban development1 641 074313110931 912 390,9558235 860 544,80 2. Regional and local accessibility782 95530231206 508 867,4828122 877 726,69 3. Sustainable tourism development426 554051639 519 260,00639 519 260 4. Local development and cooperation175 3819899991 949 499,795248 856078,68 5. Technical assistance105 8555571313 402 310,001313 402 310,00 Total 2592591 283 292 328,22157460 515 920,17

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34. 34 POSSIBILITIES FOR COOPERATION The possibilities for cooperation with Italian Government can be outlined in the following key areas:  The Italian business can participate as subcontractor of contracted grants of the OPRD that will be published periodically on the internet site of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. Call for project proposals for operations 1.1 Social Infrastructure, 1.4 Improvement of Physical Environment and Risk Prevention, 2.1 Regional and Local Road Infrastructure. 3.1 Improvement of Tourist Attractions and the Related Infrastructure are expected to be launched.  The partnerships can be established in the area of regional cooperation in the framework of the operation 4.2 Interregional Cooperation with the aim to be encouraged regional and local innovations and exchange of good practices. The regional and local stakeholders could gain significantly from acquiring knowledge and skills, particularly appropriate when finding solutions for the development through access to experience.

35. 35 ITALIAN EXPERIENCE AND FUTURE COOPERATION  The experience of the Italian experts can be used for reinforcement the capacity of the MA staff and its regional departments for monitoring, evaluation, information and control of the OPRD through elaboration of training materials, organization of trainings, study visits and discussions for exchange of experience as part of the activities for support of the operation 5.1: Management, Monitoring, Evaluation and Control

36. 36 ITALIAN EXPERIENCE AND FUTURE COOPERATION The Italian experience would be useful in reinforcement of the OPRD beneficiaries’ capacity for successful participation in OPRD implementation and SF absorption through:  Elaboration and implementation of action plans for strengthening the administrative capacity of the OPRD beneficiaries;  Elaboration and implementation of training programmes for capacity building in elaboration and implementation of integrated urban regeneration plans and strategies;  Elaboration and implementation of programmes for capacity building in implementing energy efficiency measures and using the potential of the renewable energy resources.  Elaboration and implementation of training programme for capacity building in environmental issues concerning OPRD projects as Environmental Impact Assessment, SEA, NATURA 2000 issues and their integration in OPRD projects preparation and implementation, etc

37. 37 Public Procurement Agency www.aop.bg/?page_id=6&ln=1 Announcements of Tenders are published in the web-site of “State Gazette ” http://dv.parliament.bg/DVWeb/index.faces;jsessionid=8C21E9FE8D E7293BE48834331CBC1DB0http://dv.parliament.bg/DVWeb/index.faces;jsessionid=8C21E9FE8D E7293BE48834331CBC1DB0 (in Bulgarian) http://dv.parliament.bg/DVWeb/index.faces;jsessionid=8C21E9FE8D E7293BE48834331CBC1DB0 And in the EU Official Journal Two regulations:  Public Procurement Law;  Ordinance for the award of small Public Procurement contracts

38. 38 MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE WWW.MRRB.GOVERNMENT.BGWWW.MRRB.GOVERNMENT.BG; WWW.BGREGIO.EU WWW.MRRB.GOVERNMENT.BG