Bulgaria Lacks Focus in EU Funds Absorption – Expert

Bulgaria's EU funds absorption is characterized by a lack of priorities, according to EU funds expert Atanas Kirchev.

In a Thursday interview for TV channel Bulgaria on Air, Kirchev reminded that Bulgaria's government had approved on Wednesday the Partnership Agreement with the European Commission for the new 2014-2020 programming period as a basis for negotiating with the EC.

Kirchev insisted that the distribution of EU funding in the 2014-2020 programming period was almost the same as that in the past programming period.

He also drew attention to the fact that the allocations were very similar in amount, adding that this indicated a lack of priorities.

"We need a targeted strategy which is centered on supporting the economy," the EU funds expert suggested, adding that such a paper would provide a specific orientation of the programs which were currently scattered across a number of sectors which had nothing to do with stimulating economic growth.

"The problem is that EU money is seen as a major source of funding and not an auxiliary one and they are used to plug a range of budget gaps," Kirchev declared.

He predicted an absorption rate of over 90% for the past programming period, stressing that the impact would be diminished due to the lack of focus.

Kirchev also suggested that the efficiency of EU funds absorption in the 2014-2020 programming period was also questionable due to rate of concentration.