According to the European Regional Development Fund, Bulgaria no longer ranks last in terms of EU funds absorption. It has beat 9 countries out of the 27 EU members to the 19th place, said Regional Development and Public Works Minister Rosen Plevneliev on Monday. He was attending a ceremony for presenting the award for Bulgaria's Best City to Live In.

At 19th place, Bulgaria is ahead of the Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal and Spain. Bulgaria has a 17.3 per cent rate of EU funds absorption, against 11 per cent for Romania and 13 per cent for Italy. This means that Bulgaria may be on the right track, that mayors are generating quality projects, based on rules, and that there is a sustainable long-term vision, said Plevneliev.

The Minister announced that Sofia is about to receive 100 million leva under the Operational Programme for Regional Development to set up for a new computerized traffic management system.

Source: BTA