Bulgaria's government approved the draft Partnership Agreement with the European Commission for the 2014-2020 programming period

On 21 August, Bulgaria's government approved the draft Partnership Agreement with the European Commission for the 2014-2020 programming period.

Under the agreement, the funding for the new business-oriented program "Innovations and Competitiveness" increases by EUR 50 M.

The funding earmarked for the operational programs "Human Resources Development", "Science and Education" and "Good Governance" increases by a total of EUR 340 M.

The funding for infrastructure-oriented operational programs, "Transport", "Regional Development" and "Environment" shrinks by a total of around EUR 800 M to EUR 3.65 B.

Bulgaria's allocation of EU funding for business, science and innovations increases by around EUR 350 M in the next programming period (2014-2020) at the expense of infrastructure.

At the same time, the EU funding earmarked for the "Rural Development Program" drops by around EUR 550 M, while the funding allocated to the fisheries sector increases by around EUR 20 M, according to data provided by Zinaida Zlatanova, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister.

The biggest winners in the next programming period are to be Bulgarian agricultural producers, who are to receive twice the funding granted during the current programming period.

The draft Partnership Agreement is to be sent to the EC for technical consultations by the end of the week, while the EC is to send feedback in October, according to Zlatanova.

The Partnership Agreement is to be conclusively approved by the EC by the beginning of 2014.