The European Commission positively assessed Bulgaria’s third payment request, 48 out of the 50 milestones and targets have been fulfilled
Photo: Vladimir Shokov, BTA
SOFIA – Bulgaria will receive 1.47 billion euros under the third payment from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the government information service announced.
The European Commission (EC) has given a positive assessment of Bulgaria’s third payment request under the country’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the statement says. This assessment marks a significant step towards the disbursement of funds from the European Union in support of Bulgaria’s economic growth and resilience efforts. According to the EC, a total of 48 out of 50 milestones and targets have been met, for which the country is expected to receive a payment of 1.47 billion euros before the end of the year.
Bulgaria submitted the third payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility on October 1, the information service added. The payment has the largest number of milestones and targets and covers 22 reforms and 19 investments. The leading measures are related to continuing reforms in areas such as research and innovation, decarbonization, improving the governance framework for state-owned enterprises, developing e-healthcare, and others.
The total amount comes to 1.619 billion euros. The full amount of the payment is expected to be received from the EC after the completion of negotiations on the renegotiation of the reform related to the Commission for Counteracting Corruption. Next week, a meeting is scheduled between Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev and representatives of the EC, the statement says.
The EC has sent its preliminary assessment to the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), which has four weeks to issue an opinion. After that, the Commission may adopt a decision on the payment. Bulgaria has been informed of the reasons why two milestones are assessed as incomplete and has one month to respond. If the assessment is confirmed, the temporary suspension will remain in force. The country will have six months to take the necessary actions, after which the remaining part of the funds may be released.
The payment to Bulgaria for the already approved milestones and targets may be made after a positive opinion from the EFC and the adoption of a payment decision by the EC. (2 December)
