By 2013 Bulgaria will receive over 2,822 million euro to invest in "green projects" or projects, the implementation of which is closely related with environment protection. The EU will invest a total of 105,000 million euro in green economy, which accounts for over 30 per cent of the budget, allocated for the cohesion policy in the 2007-2013 period, European Commissioner in charge of regional policy Danuta Hubner said on Monday.

The highest amount of funds, 934,903,309 euro will be allocated for the water sector, followed by railway transport - 464 million euro, waste management - 300,521,138 euro, energy efficiency and energy management - 125,619,935 euro. A total of 98,861,283 euro will be extended for direct protection of nature and increasing biodiversity and 66,491,830 euro for the production of energy from renewable resources.

These projects, including the amount of the funds for their implementation, are specified for each country. Commissioner Hubner said that there could be certain change and transfer of funds between projects given that the big goal of protecting the environment and, simultaneously, increasing employment, remains unchanged.

In the case with Bulgaria and Romania over 50 per cent of the funds for cohesion policy will be spent for the green economy.

"I am glad that an increasing higher number of people in the EU, Bulgaria inclusive, are aware that extending of more funds for the green economy is important," said she. This entails not only environment protection and job creation but also increasing of living standards," added the Commissioner.

Source: BTA