MRRD launched a campaign under the application procedure with Integrated Territorial Investments

The start of an information campaign for applications with Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) from the northern regions of the country was given by Deputy Minister of Regional Development Angelina Boneva from Ruse. She emphasized that it was not by chance that the first information day was held in Ruse and explained: "Our goal is to support the most needy territories so that they can catch up, and why not overtake the others during the new program period." As the head of the Managing Authority of the 2021-2027 Regional Development Program (RDP), she specified that more than 50% of the funds under the program are earmarked for integrated territorial investments in Northern Bulgaria and in implementation of the new regional approach.

The mechanism for the implementation of integrated territorial investments and the new regional approach were presented by experts from the RDP Managing Authority. Different possibilities for combining ideas, including measures to solve regional key problems, were pointed out as good example concepts for ITIs. In their development and implementation, representatives of national institutions and local communities, business, non-governmental organizations, scientific circles, civil society should participate as partners. Uniting the efforts of all partners and their active involvement in the process is key to achieving success of the new regional policy, emphasized Ivaylo Stoyanov - head of the "Strategic Planning and Programming" Department in the Main Directorate "Strategic Planning and Programs for Regional Development" in the Ministry.

All concepts must comply with the approved Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) concept application guidelines and be submitted through the ISUN electronic system under the currently open application procedure.

The unified guidelines were developed jointly by the Managing Authorities of the 6 programs for the shared management of European funds in Bulgaria during the 2021-2027 program period, which will participate in the financing and implementation of the new regional approach. These are the Regional Development Program 2021-2027, the Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises Program 2021-2027, the Research, Innovation and Digitalization for Smart Transformation Program 2021-2027, the Education Program 2021-2027; Environment Program 2021-2027 and Human Resources Development Program 2021-2027.

The leading program for the implementation of the new ITI approach, according to the Regulations for the Implementation of the Law on Regional Development (RDLA), is the Regional Development Program (RDP) 2021-2027.

During the discussion at the information day, the details related to the application stages, the requirements for the preparation of ITI concepts to participate in the selection procedure at the regional level, the compliance with the normative strategic documents, etc. were specified. After the completion of the procedure for the selection of concepts for ITI, the development of requirements and rules for the preparation, submission, assessment, provision of financing and implementation of the specific project proposals included in the ranked concepts is to be developed. They will be subject to separate Application Guidelines developed by the respective Governing Bodies of the participating programmes, it was made clear during the event.

The joint information day is the first of a series of events planned in the information campaign "Are you ready for ITI?", which is being conducted by the Management Board of the PRR 2021-2027 for all regions of the country. On 18.07.2023, an online joint information day will be held for stakeholders from the North-East Region (NER). On 21.07.2023, it is planned to hold an in-person information day in the city of Burgas for the Southeast Region (SE). On 26.07.2023, the campaign ends with a joint information day for the representatives of the South Central and South West planning regions.