International financial institutions will help Bulgaria in the implementation of 46 projects financed with European Union funds, the country’s minister in charge of EU fund absorption, Tomislav Donchev, said on August 2 2011.

 

The country has been allowed by the director general of the European Commission’s regional policy directorate-general, Dirk Ahner, and internal market director general Jonathan Faull to sign contracts with the institutions to provide technical assistance.

 

The move will require an amendment to the Public Procurement Act to allow direct contracts with the financial institutions, Donchev said. The Government has started drafting amendments to the bill, which already passed first reading in Parliament. The amendments will undergo second reading in September.

 

Currently, loans obtained by the country from the World Bank, European Investment Bank (EIB) or European Bank for Reconstruction and Development should be first approved in Parliament.

 

The three institutions are expected to provide technical assistance for nine road projects, as well as for 30 water and seven seven railway projects, according to Donchev.

 

In addition, the country’s Regional Development Ministry will set up a project management agency in a procedure supported by EIB.

source: ‘Dnevnik’