Mobility and industrial zones and parks will be strategic operations under the Development of Regions Programme 2021-2027

First phase of integrated territorial investments expected to be announced in May. “Phase 1 of the Integrated Territorial Investments under the Development of Regions Programme 2021-2027 is expected to be announced after St George's Day”. This was announced by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Angelina Boneva during today’s forum “Industrial Zones - Growth for Municipalities and Regions” with the participation of the Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds Management Atanas Pekanov and the Minister of Innovation and Growth Alexander Pulev.

For the financing of the integrated territorial investments, five other programmes, whose budget is co-financed with European funds, are also relied on. Under Phase 1, through the Information System for Management and Monitoring, applicants will submit a concept for an investment, which includes a summary of the planned investments, main partners and budget, Boneva explained. It is hoped that the regional development councils will prioritise the concepts and that phase 2 - the submission of a full project proposal - will start in the autumn.

Among the key requirements for integrated territorial investment concepts is the partnership approach and the unlocking effect in terms of territorial development. The idea is not to work “piecemeal” but to combine sectoral investments. Thus, in practice, the Regional Development Programme builds on the sectoral approach. Financial instruments and combined financing are envisaged again, and successful examples in this respect were shown at the forum - Burgas, Yambol, Vratsa, Ruse, etc.

Strategic operations under the programme will be mobility and industrial zones and parks.

The investments under the urban priority of the Regional Development Programme with a total budget of BGN 1 billion are focused in the ten largest urban municipalities, and there will no longer be a limitation on the territory of the municipal centre, the so-called building limits of the city. For the first time, there will be regional budgets earmarked in the six planning regions with over 56% of funds earmarked for the North. This will be done under the second priority targeting 40 smaller municipalities. The total budget for the regional priority is over BGN 2.5 billion.