Bulgaria has until October 15 to prepare the changes in the NRSP, if we want not to lose funds

The changes to the Recovery and Sustainability Plan must be sent no later than October 15-20, so that the European Commission (EC) can accept them and Bulgaria does not lose funds. This was stated in the Council of Ministers by the Acting Minister of Finance Ludmila Petkova, quoted by BTA.

The EC needs time, internal agreement, as does the Council, and that takes about two months, she added.

Petkova explained that the proposals for changes are related to some investments that cannot be implemented within the period of the plan - until August 2026. According to her, the proposals are to direct financial resources to projects that have greater national importance and can be fulfilled.

Two decisions were submitted to the National Assembly. The first decision is related to the Climate Neutrality Roadmap and is regarding the second payment under the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan (NRSP), Petkova said.

She recalled that Bulgaria is the only EU country that received only the first payment under the plan.

Petkova emphasized that the second payment, entered in 2023, has not been paid, as it is related to certain reforms. The road map is part of them. If the road map is not accepted, the financial correction will be 266 million euros, which represents more than 30 percent of the requested second payment in the amount of 653 million euros, Petkova pointed out.

Regarding the second decision, she explained that it gives a mandate to the caretaker government to continue negotiations with the EC. Bulgaria does not have a REPowerEU chapter and the funds under it are EUR 479 million. It was the idea of ​​the National Assembly to give a mandate to the caretaker government to continue the negotiations, as well as the adoption of the REPowerEU chapter to be a fact by the end of 2024, Petkova also said.