Deputy Prime Minister Donchev expects zero funding under second tranche of the Recovery and Resilience Programme

Bulgaria has paid 11% of the available funds under the EU's Recovery and Resilience Programme. This is less than 700 million euros for 4 years, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said in parliament.

At the end of 2023, a request for a second payment was submitted. I am expecting a response from the European Commission, said Deputy Prime Minister Donchev. He pointed out that some of the requested reforms have been implemented in order for the European money to be allocated. That is why he expects "to receive zero funding under the second payment". At the same time, there are countries in the EU that are already on the fourth and sixth payments.

The deadline for payments under the Recovery and Resilience Programme is August 2026. "We have a year and a half to pay the remaining 89% of the money," said Donchev, adding that the state will have to use its entire capacity for this.