Minister Borislav Sandov: I expect that work will be done at a high pace on all OPE 2014-2020 projects

20 May, 2022 | 14:17

 

“I expect that work on all projects of the Operational Program Environment 2014 - 2020 will be done at a high pace, that the beneficiaries will be mobilized so that they will be able to fulfill their commitments as much as possible,” said the Minister of Environment and Water Borislav Sandov to participants in the 16th meeting of the OPE 2014 – 2020 Monitoring Committee.

The Minister opened the forum and stressed the importance of doing everything possible to compensate for the delays in some of the projects, to speed up the processes or undertake timely redirection of funds.

“The most important goal of OPE projects is to improve the quality of life of people by providing cleaner air, better management of water and waste, and by preserving biodiversity,” said Minister Sandov.

The head of the Managing Authority of OPE 2014 - 2020 Galina Simeonova also noted the need for rapid action on project implementation. She presented to members of the Monitoring Committee a report on the implementation of OPE for 2021, as well as an indicative annual work program for the current year.

The partners in the monitoring committee discussed methodologies and criteria for evaluation of project proposals under procedures for which funding is provided until the end of the programming period: “Improving the conservation status of steppe natural habitats through land acquisition”, “Expanding the early warning and notification system of the population at the level of local administrative units and modernization of the Early Warning and Notification System (EWRS) of the executive authorities” and “Conservation of forest natural habitats and support of ecosystem services provided by forests through forestry practices and afforestation.”

The Monitoring Committee approved an amendment to Operational Program Environment 2014 – 2020 and increased the maximum value of projects under the procedure “Measures to improve air quality” for the beneficiaries Smolyan, Vidin, Montana, and Dimitrovgrad. The results of the implementation of the financial instruments under OPE 2014 - 2020 were presented, as well as the evaluations of the program.