TAIEX – REGIO Multi Country Workshop on management practices for environmental investments 8-9 December 2015, Vilnius Presentation by BULGARIA Ministry of Environment and Water Directorate General OP Environment Svetlana Zhekova Deputy Director General

Mechanism and structures, managing and coordinating the use of the EU Funds Responsible Deputy Prime Minister Council for Coordination and Management of EU Funds Council for Coordination and Management of EU Funds Monitoring Committee of Partnership Agreement Monitoring Committees of respective OPs Managing Authorities Central Coordination Unit EU FUNDS STRUCTURE OF MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL SYSTEM IN BULGARIA MoF Audit of EU Funds Executive Agency MoF Certifying Authority

EU FUNDS MANAGEMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS IN BULGARIA Fund of Funds for joint management of the financial instruments in the programming period State-owned company established in July 2015 (under the Minister of Finance) will be in charge of managing EUR 777 mln. of EU funds The EIB, the World Bank and the EBRD provide technical assistance in the establishment of the umbrella fund Horizontal procedures related to financial instruments implementation (investment strategies, legal procedures, audits, monitoring, reporting etc.) will be common for the Fund Ex-ante assessment of rationality in using the financial instruments for addressing existing market failures carried out in accordance with Article 37(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 According to the ex-ante assessment the following OPs shall contribute: “Innovation and competitiveness” “Regions in Growth” “Environment” (~ EUR 146 mln. envisaged for FIs in the Water and Waste sectors) “Human Resources Development”

MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND WATER DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL DG OPE DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL DG OPE DIRECTOR GENERAL DG OP ENVIRONMENT OPE MANAGING AUTHORITY DIRECTOR GENERAL DG OP ENVIRONMENT OPE MANAGING AUTHORITY DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL DG OPE DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL DG OPE “ Communication, coordination and technical assistance” Department “ Communication, coordination and technical assistance” Department “Project evaluation and contracting” Department “Programming and Planning” Department ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE “Monitoring” Department “Financial Activity” Department “Subsequent Control” Department AUDITS AND IRREGULARITIES DEPARTMENT 2 TERRITORIAL UNITS OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME ENVIRONMENT

Progress under OPE by November 2015 Total budget of the programme – BGN 3,2 billion Grants contracts signed – BGN 4,1 billion (122,79% of the overall programme resource) Payments under contracts signed – BGN 3,4 billion 225 completed projects & 199 ongoing projects close to completion (8 water infrastructure projects to be phased)

Completed infrastructure 44 constructed/reconstructed waste water treatment plants (WWTP) km constructed/reconstructed water supply and sewerage network * inhabitants are served by improved conditions in the water supply and sewerage sector 15 regional waste landfills are constructed Installation for mechanical- biological waste treatment is constructed in Sofia municipality.

Progress under Priority Axis 3 “Biodiversity” 56 are the projects in progress 23 projects are successfully completed for a total amount of BGN 12 million BGN 210 million are paid to the beneficiaries The financial resources are mainly used for supporting conservation and preservation of natural habitats and over 300 rare and threatened species

 FINANCIAL RESOURCES : BGN  SUPPORT FROM EU: BGN  NATIONAL SUPPORT: BGN OP ENVIRONMENT WATER WASTE 562 NATURA 2000 AND BIODIVERSITY 198 FLOODS AND LANDSLIDES RISK PREVENTION 153 AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT 115 TECHNICAL SUPPORT 92 FINANCIAL DISTRIBUTION BY AXES IN MILLION LEVA OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME ENVIRONMENT (approved 15/06/2015) FINANCIAL ASPECTS

Priority axisMain priorities PA 1 “Water“ 4 procedures launched Improved WS&S infrastructure aiming compliance with the WWTP and Drinking Water Directives Improved monitoring of water bodies and drinking water Support for the implementation of the Water sector reform PA 2 “Waste“ 1 procedure launched Aiming higher in the waste management hierarchy – recycling (focus on bio-waste) and re-use PA 3 “NATURA 2000 and biodiversity“ 2 procedures launched Focus on conservation measures identified in the Priority Action Framework for Natura 2000 (PAF) Establishment of a national structure for the management of PAF and of Natura 2000 network Establishment and mapping of marine Natura 2000 areas PA 4 “Flood and landslides risk prevention and management“ 1 procedure launched New PA focused on the prevention of floods and landslides in identified risk areas A National System for Real Time Water Management will be established under this PA The second Floods Risk Management Plans will be developed PA 5 „Improvement of ambient air quality“ New PA focused on measures to address the main sources of PM10 pollution in municipalities with poor air quality – domestic heating and transport PA 6 „Technical assistance“ 1 budget line launched Supporting the functions of the MA and improving project management capacities of the OPE beneficiaries OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME ENVIRONMENT MAIN PRIORITIES

Best management practices (1) Unified Management and Information System 2020 (UMIS 2020) A strong instrument for reducing the administrative burden by enhancing e-communication with beneficiaries and between governing institutions Developed under OP TA and supported by the “Information and Management Systems of EU Funds” Directorate in the Council of Ministers Provides summary information on the financial implementation of the operational programmes (contracted and paid) for 7 Ops, as well as information at programme level (profile, forecast, performance) and at the levels of priority axis, sub-priority or procedure Provides also information at project level – distribution of projects across regions, districts and municipalities, for all OPs and for each programme In programming period – all projects to be submitted, evaluated and reported via UMIS 2020 OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME ENVIRONMENT

Best management practices (2) Motivation of the employees – quarterly bonus system incorporated in the remunerations (linked to performance evaluation) and flexible working hours introduced Less brain drain Appointment of experts at the position of “Fellow on management of European projects and programmes” to provide skilled expertise for the implementation of specific activities for the management of the operational programme (their remuneration as of the MA staff is provided under priority axis 6 of OPE) Specific expertise attracted OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME ENVIRONMENT

Best management practices (3) Guidelines for mainstreaming the environment policy and the climate change policy into the funds of CP, CAP and CFP for the period  Phase I (approved by the CoM in March 2013) – Cover the stage of OP drafting by providing the basic legal framework and analysis of institutional mechanisms for policy implementation based on the experience so far  Phase II (pending approval by the CoM) – Cover the stage of OP implementation: elaboration of guiding principles for selection of operations and indicators  Measures are mainly targeted at the implementation of: TO 4: supporting low-carbon economy TO 5: promoting climate change adaptation and risk prevention TO 6: protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency TO 7: promoting sustainable transport TO 11: enhancing institutional capacity for mainstreaming EP&CCP into the OPs OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME ENVIRONMENT

Thank you for your attention!