Bulgaria to unlock payments under EU's Environment operational programme
Bulgaria will hand out about 304 million leva for projects under the European Union's Environment operational programme in 2011, Deputy Environment Minister, Ivelina Vassileva, said in Parliament on May 26 2011.The amount will bring the size of the funds absorbed under the scheme to 548 million leva, or 15.5 per cent of its budget, which stands at 1.8 billion euro.In recent months, the country suspended the distribution of funds under the programme because of a number of violations found in completed projects.The Environment Ministry plans to sign contracts to disburse 865 million leva for projects this year, which will mainly concern the construction of landfills and waste water treatment plants, as well as drafting management plans for protected areas.By the end of 2011, the ministry expects to have contracted 48 per cent of the funds allocated under the programme. (Source: The Sofia Echo)