Atanas Pekanov: It is high time to think about EU funds as an investment for growth

We want to submit the Plan for Recovery and Sustainability in July, and before that we discuss with the public the important new projects, said the Deputy Prime Minister for European Funds Atanas Pekanov in the program "Week 150" on BNR. No country has yet received its money under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan. Several plans have been approved, and at some point those who first submit their plans will receive the money. The government of Boyko Borissov and the United Patriots had the opportunity to submit their plan, for which they had 9 months to prepare. They have made their political decision that they will not take this responsibility and that is their right. For our part, if we believe that the plan can be better, we are obliged to improve it, "Pekanov commented.

"We are not making an absolute revision, but we are reformulating the goals so that the money can be used efficiently," Pekanov said, indicating that the medical helicopter project will be included so that we will not be the only country in Europe without a rescue air system. And many of the other new projects are in sectors where we are last or the absolute exception.

The plan will be presented to the EC this week

The Deputy Prime Minister explained that in the last one month intensive work has been done with all ministries and there will be improvements in about half of the projects set in the Plan. "This week they will be presented to the services of the European Commission, after which we will have about 2 weeks of dialogue with them, and then, in mid-July, we will have our version of the plan. We will subject it to public discussion at the end of July, it will be ready to be imported, "Pekanov explained.

For the first time, planning is based on clear indicators not by years, but by months

"Changes in the projects will be possible after the adoption, but it will not be easy. Because for the first time planning is based on clear indicators not only year after year, but in some cases on a quarterly basis. We are used to receiving the same recommendations from the European institutions year after year, but never changing anything. Thank you and continue as before. I would even say that we are most grateful to Brussels for giving us the finances. Everything else didn't seem to interest the former rulers. But now Brussels is saying - finances versus change. Unfortunately, I find that the Bulgarian institutions are not prepared for this. It's just that for years the issue has not been on the agenda. And the time has come when we must all realize that if we want the country to prosper, we must be strict with ourselves, not just rely on an external arbitrator. We must not make compromises, as with GERB, when we plan projects, set goals, determine the strategy we follow and how the activities are implemented, "Pekanov commented.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, if we do not help each other, there is no one to help us. Therefore, it is high time we changed our understanding of absorption and started thinking of funds as an investment to support growth. He pointed out Sofia as a bad example, where for years he has relied on grants at the expense of other, weak regions in the country. And Brussels is constantly criticizing us for this. ”Five of our six regions are among the poorest in the country, and Sofia, which is not among them, is doing well - automatically due to the fact that it is the capital and most businesses come here. the population is growing - nevertheless, Sofia continues to take a large part of the total European resource for the country. This is not a sustainable and fair model, because the money under European programs is for cohesion or cohesion of the regions. "

Pekanov reminded that the budget of the operational programs is bigger than the one under the Plan and with discipline and purposeful efforts very good ideas can be supported in this line. But again, it is a matter of proactivity and preparation of the institutions.

Pekanov also commented on GERB's claims that they are coping well with crises with the words "This praise is out of place, to put it mildly. Bulgaria dealt with the pandemic in the worst possible way. We have some of the worst parameters to deal with this health crisis in the world, mortality rates are appalling. And during the financial crisis, if you remember, Minister Djankov relied on fiscal policies, which today are completely rejected in Europe because they are not working. "And he called on all participants in the political debate to be based on facts and to show political maturity.

We must try to make our society better, because we cannot constantly put up with being last in all the rankings. In this sense, I will consider it a success if we give an example that young people who are interested in our country can contribute to its better development, "Atanas Pekanov concluded.