The European Commissioner For Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladimir Spidla signed an Operational Program for Administrative Capacity (OPAC) on Wednesday. This is one of the first programs to receive an approval by the European Commission.

“2007 has been a very special year for the European Social Fund and marks the start of another 7-year period of financial support. Bulgaria is among the countries to receive funding from the ESF for the first time. I am convinced that this will contribute for improvement of the countries administration and work force,”Vladimir Spidla said.

The development of OPAC started much later than that of the other 6 programs. The decision for its establishment was taken following a recommendation of the European Commission dated May 2005. Negotiations ended on 13 September and the program was filed with the EC for approval last month.

The main aim of the program is to facilitate the improvement of the state administration, of the quality of service provided by it to citizens and businesses, and to create conditions for sustainable economicgrowth and employment. The program is also aimed at increasing professionalism, transparency, and accountability in the judicial system. These objectives will be reached by work on 4 priority areas: good management, human resource management, quality administration services, and development of electronic management and technical support.

OPAC beneficiaries can be administrations on central or local level, the bodies of the judicial system, as well as non-government organizations.

OPAC's budget for the period 2007 – 2013 totals 181 mln euros. Of it, 154 mln euros will be provided by the European Social Fund, and 27 mln euros by the state budget. Total budget for 2007 stands at 13 mln euros.

The program's first activities will be the launching of an informational campaign on OPAC aimed at potential beneficiaries, as well as starting a procedures for gathering project suggestions. Project suggestions will be evaluated next month, and the first contracts with beneficiaries will be signed by the end of the year.