The outgoing Deputy Prime Minister, Meglena Plougchieva, thinks that despite the installation of a new government, any changes affecting the managing authorities of the operational programs should be coordinated with the European Commission and will require a new compliance assessment, which would cause a delay in the absorption of EU funds.

"A change in the management system of the operational programs can be considered only after the compliance assessments are received and approved by the European Commission in the autumn," Plougchieva told reporters on Wednesday.

"Bulgaria is the only EU Member State which has 9 management bodies in charge of EU funds and such total horizontal decentralization is very intricate," Plougchieva pointed out.

She expressed her satisfaction with the National Assembly's resolution for the establishment of a committee to manage EU funds.

Five out of seven operational programs have received positive compliance assessment and are in line with the assessment criteria, Audit Authority Director Raya Ontsova said. The assessment procedure concerning the operational programe "Regional Development" is about to be completed and will subsequently be sent to the European Commission. "As for the operational programme "Environment", there are things regarding management and control systems which remain to be improved," she added.

Representatives from two EC Directorates-General and Bulgarian experts will discuss issues related to the SAPARD programme at a technical meeting at the end of July.

Source: BTA