The amount of paid out funds under OP Transport reached BGN 1.5 billion, Transport, Information Technology and Communications Minister Ivaylo Moskovski reported during a briefing today. The event is part of the Monitoring Committee of the National Strategic Reference Framework for the implementation and progress of the operational programs financed by the Structural and Cohesion Funds. The briefing was attended by the Minister of Management of EU funds Tomislav Donchev, the Head of the Department for Bulgaria in the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy Renaldo Mandmets and Philip Hat, Head of the Department for Romania, Bulgaria and Malta in the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the European Commission.

"At the moment there is no danger of losing funds OP Transport.Perhaps we will be able to absorb the entire programme and the state will have to pay for additional projects" added minister Moskovski.

“Some 96% of OP Transport are actually agreed, EC certified and restored BGN 1.2 billion. These money has actually entered the economy and are the main reason to generate growth” Moskovski explained. In a situation of crisis, the best way to growth is investment. The actual effects of the implementation of these tools can be seen. As a specific example, Moskovski pointed out the subway in Sofia. More than 350,000 people use the subway daily - a project of indisputable impact on the society and environment.

“Preparation for the next programming period is happening within the terms agreed, road and railway projects, and the Sofia subway are our major priorities”the minister added.

“The actual effects of the implementation of these tools can be seen. We can talk about miles of constructed roads and railway lines” said minister Tomislav Donchev during the briefing.