15.05.2012

Almost BGN 242 million, or 68.4%, of the total budget of Operational Programme Administrative Capacity (OPAC) have been contracted so far. BGN 106.6 million, or 30.2 per cent, of these funds have been paid for already implemented project activities, with BGN 2.8 million having been paid to OPAC beneficiaries in the last two months. Just for April 2012 contracts amounting to BGN 14.6 million have been contracted. 18 new projects were launched in March and April, with the bulk of them being municipal projects. They envisage activities aimed at effective coordination and partnership in the elaboration and conducting of policies, as well as trans-national and interregional cooperation with other Member States.

Among the most sizeable projects are those to an amount of almost BGN 12 million to be implemented by the National Institute of Justice and the Institute of Public Administration. Activities aimed at improving the professional qualification of magistrates and court officers through training courses on specialized topics of EU law and implementing good practices in the field of EU penal and procedural law are to be financed under OPAC. The training of civil servants is also planned in view of implementing the good practices of administrative activities and improving the services delivered to citizens and businesses.