1. Ministry of Finance National Strategic Reference Framework Communication Strategy 20 June 2008 Second NSRF Monitoring Committee Zornitsa Arsenieva Advisor to the Minister of Finance

2. NSRF Communication Strategy  Taking account of EU information and publicity requirements and guidelines, and of the need for communication at national level.  Ensuring optimal publicity and information synergy at all levels.  Coordination of OP Communication Plans and the measures set therein.  Defining the common communication goals and laying down the competencies and responsibilities of the institutions involved.  Establishing central and regional networks.

3. Министерство на финансите Objectives of the NSRF Communication Strategy  General objective:  Ensuring maximum transparency through promotion of the development priorities in the NSRF and the OPs in the context of EU common cohesion policy for the period 2007-2013  Specific objectives:  Ensuring maximum information and wide public support to the implementation of the Structural and Cohesion Funds in Bulgaria;  Facilitating the access to financing by the Structural Instruments in Bulgaria and stimulating the participation of stakeholders in EU fund absorption.

4. Instruments for attaining the objectives  Communication Plan of OP Regional Development (OPRD)  Communication Plan of OP Competitiveness (OPC)  Communication Plan of OP Environment (OPE)  Communication Plan of OP Transport (OPT)  Communication Plan of OP Human Resource Development (OPHRD)  Communication Plan of OP Administrative Capacity (OPAC)  Communication Plan of OP Technical Assistance (OPTA)  OP Technical Assistance, Priority Axis 3

5. Communication Plan (CP) Status OP STAGE STAGE OP APPROVAL BY MC DISPATCH TO THE EC RECEIPT OF FIRST COMMENTS RE-DISPATCH TO THE EC APPROVAL BY EC OPRDNovember 200705 March 200806 May 2008planned06 May 2008 OPACJuly 2007 04 February 200804 April 200804 June 2008forthcoming OPEJanuary 200807 March 200807 May 2008 Autumn MC meeting07 May 2008 OPT06 March 200808 March 200807 may 2008 Planned for 07 July 2008forthcoming OPHRD 01 February 2008 02 February 200814 March 200814 May 2008 forthcoming OPC January 2008 04 February 200831 March 200830 May 2008forthcoming OPTAFebruary 200805 March 200825 April 2008planned forthcoming

6. Logo  Designing the vision of EU common structural policies in Bulgaria  OP logos:  OP Regional Development  OP Competitiveness  OP Transport  OP Environment  OP Technical Assistance  OP Administrative Capacity

7. Information Networks  National networks  National network of communication officers  Regional networks  Regional information networks (28 Info Points)

8. Specialised websites OP websites, websites, beneficiaries beneficiaries WEBSITEUPDATE National levelwww.eufunds.bg running OPRDwww.bgregio.euAfter project approval OPCwww.opcompetitiveness.bg On a six months’ base (twice a year) OPEwww.moew.government.bg On a six months’ base (twice a year) OPTwww.optransport.bg On a six months’ base (twice a year) OPHRD www.ef.mlsp.government.bg www.az.government.bg www.asp.government.bg www.web.mon.bg/sf In accordance with Regulation No 1828/2006 OPACwww.opac.government.bgmonthly OPTA www.eufund.bg www.minfin.bg quarterly (4 times a year)

9. Public events  Information and discussion forums  Local meetings  Seminars  Conferences  Round Tables  Road show  Dissemanation of information and promotional materials

10. Official launch OP DATEDATE OF OP LAUNCH OPRD14 November 2007 OPC17 October 2007 OPE05 December 2007 OPT09 December 2007 OPHRD20 July 2007 OPAC13 September 2007 OPTA12 November 2007

11. Relations and dialogue with the media  Press conferences  Briefings  Press releases  Journalist discussions and press-trips  Training and consultations  Coverage in the press and in the electronic media  TV and radio broadcasts  Films  Co-productions  Contributed articles and programmes

12. Dialogue with target groups  Meetings with potential beneficiaries  Information and discussion forums  Advisory meetings and workshops  Presentations

13. Information campaigns  Be Active information campaign  22 national and 31 regional press and electronic media  6 websites  22 public events in 15 towns  More than 13,000 participants  50,000 press materials  Over 150,000 printed materials, distributed at seminars  Reaching 84% of the general public aged 25-60 years.  Information Days

14. Sociological survey  Overall process of SCF absorption  A 4-wave survey aimed to trace in dynamics the level of awareness and preparedness of potential beneficiaries for the absorption of EU funds accompanied by a national representative sample surveying the attitude of the population to this topic  Specialized ones

15. 2007 - 2013 Ministry of Finance THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Zornitsa Arsenieva Advisor to the Minister of Finance WWW.EUFUNDS.BG WWW.MINFIN.BG