27.03.2014

"The support for decentralization will continue through Operational Programme Good Governance, the successor of OPAC. The establishment of a Municipal Resource Coordination Centre to the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) and a call centre to provide assistance in the use of services is foreseen", said Monika Dimitrova-Beecher, Director of the MoF OPAC Directorate at a meeting with representatives of the central and local administrations, the judiciary, AFKOS, BORKOR and NGOs. "We have the ambition to absorb the whole budget of OPAC by the end of 2015 and for the purpose we need to over-programme and over-contract the funds provided for the first programming period. As regards the next seven years 2014-2020 we will focus our efforts on building on the results achieved so far and on encouraging citizens and businesses to benefit therefrom", commented the OPAC Director.

The planned so far budget of EUR 335.9 million for the new programme is only indicative and if the European Commission approves it, activities in the field of administrative services, e-governance, partnership with civil society and businesses, modernization of the judiciary and strengthening the administrative structures involved the management of the EU Structural and the Cohesion Funds will be financed. Monika Dimitrova-Beecher was firm that the lack of sustainability and continuation both in respect of projects and the already built administrative capacity in the Managing Authorities would not be a good signal to our European partners. According to her the key principles for the next programming period should be setting realistic objectives that are achievable, partnership at all levels, smart implementation of the lessons learnt and most of all good coordination between and activity of all stakeholders.