ЕC: BCC is important partner in EU funds work

BCC returns from visit to Brussels with a theme of the FIEC Congress in 2011 and topical advice on EU funds absorption straight from the European Commission BCC Chairman – Eng. Svetoslav Glosov took a close view of the FIEC work at the first meeting with the General Director of the European organization Mr. Ulrich Paetzold, as well with the experts on social, economic and legal and technical issues: Domenico Campogrande, Christine Le Forestier and Frank Faraday. Eng. Nikolai Nikolov of the Executive Board of BCC, Eng. Ivan Boykov – Managing Director and Velyana Topalova, from “International Relations” Department were also present at the meeting.  The main theme was the discussion on the organization of the FIEC Congress in Sofia in 2011 as the theme of the official event was clarified. European top entrepreneurs will discuss the urgent issue of state subsidies and unfair invasion of entrepreneurs from third for EU countries on the European market at the conference the following June. FIEC are sure that the congress in Sofia will be held at highest level and pin great hopes on their BCC hosts. Meeting in Department “Bulgaria” of General Management “Regional Development” of the European Commission The Chairman and the representatives of BCC discussed the real situation in relation to the European funds and programs of the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Experts of the European Commission expressed concern over the development and future of euro projects in Bulgaria. According to them, our country will succeed to negotiate much less funds for regional development in the next program period. The situation of funds absorption in the current financial frame is not satisfactory either – funds on ISPA for our country will finally stop in December 2010 but we may have to return absorbed funds if projects are not ready by the middle of 2012. The question is about over 100 million euro for railway projects. European experts are unanimous that a new organization of the structures for management of projects in Bulgaria is needed, as well as Bulgarian administration to listen more to the advice given by the European colleagues on expert as well as on state level. The important role of BCC was emphasized as partner to the government and EC in EU funds absorption.