The European Funds in Bulgaria

THE EUROPEAN FUNDS IN BULGARIA GOOD GOVERNANCE WHAT WE OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME ОПЕРАТИВНА ПРОГРАМА ACHIEVE www.eufunds.bgДОБРО УПРАВЛЕНИЕ www.eufunds.bg TOGETHER The european funds in Bulgaria whaT we achieve TogeTher You are holding in your hands a book that presents the achievements made in Bulgaria through the implementation of the european funds. when discussing the topic, one can easily focus on the figures and miss what is most important – how inTroducTion 4 - 7 our lives have changed. on a strategic level the european funds support reforms for a faster and more successful development of the country as a whole. on a practical level - they have InclusIve growth 8 - 33 a positive impact on everyone involved in the implementation of the projects as well as on the end beneficiaries. This all-around effect of the funds determines their crucial role in achieving social smart growth 34 - 69 and economic development as well as our responsibility to use them in an effective and purposeful way. This is the only way to ensure long-term sustainability of the achieved success and full scale development of our country’s potential. sustaInable growth 70 - 127 GOOD GOVERNANCE 128 - 137 state institutions involved in the process of COMMUNICATION 138 - 145 eu funds management bulgarIa anD the eu 146 The results of the european investments are measur- able. They make the everyday life of Bulgarian citizens easier. The established infrastructure is a condition for the smooth functioning of the economy, making the country a better place to live and work in. Business innova- tions, investment in people, in their qualifications and skills, investment in urban areas, rural development, fight against poverty and social exclusion are all de- veloping faster and with better chances for success thanks to european policies and funding. They bring european added value as well as improved living and working conditions and a powerful push for economic activity and growth. 5 introduction At national level, the positive net effect on the business indicators of enterprises as a result of the activated economic activity from the EU funds can be described as: At the end of 2015 as a result of the implementation of the seven operational programs, Rural Development Program and Operational program ”Fisheries sector development“ real GDP is expected to be 10.1% higher than the scenario in 7 introduction which there are no investment cost under the SCF. inclusive growTh Investing in people Future and professional development social services helping people Deinstitutionalization – towards a happy childhood 1 responsibility for health invesTing in people The education of our children european funds are essential to economic growth in bulgaria. free of charge funds enable us to invest not only in the country but mostly in people. we aim to improve the quality of life, to achieve high levels of employment, to provide access to quality education and lifelong learning. during the 2007 - 2013 programming period more than 1.8 million Bulgarians received support from the european social fund - to complete their education and gain additional qualifications. Business has trained staff and has made a smoother transition from education to employment. 1 284 thousand of them are children and students, who receive support to continue their education. created over 140 thousand jobs. developed system for lifelong learning. Just over 400 thousand people have undergone in training for professional qualifications and key competences. over 80 thousand teachers and lecturers are included in various trainings and practical training in a real working environment is provided for close to 38 thousand students from professional schools and over 102 thousand students. a system for extracurricular activities has been created. contributes to the prevention of early school leaving by working with 176 thousand children, students and parents, access to quality education and including over 81 thousand roma children. lifelong learning 10 11 i nvesting in people nvesting nvesting in people nvesting i ACHIEVEMENTS In THE FIELD oF SCHOOL eDUCATION science and education for the future over 200 thousand students participate in extracurricular for the first time during the 2014 - 2020 programming and outside school activities; period, there is an operational program, which is entirely more than 800 central schools have introduced full-day devoted to science and education. op „science and organization of the educational process; education for smart growth“ has three main objectives: over 170 thousand students in secondary schools have to reduce early school leavers to below 11%; improved educational scores through participation in board- to increase university graduates between 30 and 34 ing groups; years of age to 36%; improved state and municipal educational infrastructure to increase investment in science and research to (renovation and modernization of 363 buildings). 1.5% of gDP. ACHIEVEMENTS In THE FIELD oF hIGHER eDUCATION development and start of ranking system of universities in Bulgaria; more than 200 thousand students receive scholarships; over 5 thousand Ph.D. students, post ph.d. students, gra- duate students and young scientists receive funding; renovation and modernization of 43 universities in the country. ImPROVIng ACCESS TO lIFELONG LEARNIng nearly 20 thousand adults successfully completed literacy courses and obtained a degree to have better chances of employment; 130,248 persons are included in employment programs or internships. 12 13 i nvesting in people nvesting nvesting in people nvesting i WHAT wILL we ACHIEVE In SECONDARY eDUCATION? more than 1 038 educational facilities are supported through the european regional development fund. over 160 thousand students from 1 500 schools every year will participate in activities to They are engaged in several activities as renovation, increase their motivation to learn and develop various skills. extracurricular activities will help repair and reconstruction. equipment is supplied for students catch up with material, so they will not drop out of school, and will help talented the operation of these buildings (nurseries and kinder- children to prepare for competitions and races. gartens, primary and secondary schools and universi- 20 thousand students will have the opportunity to practice in a real working environment to ties, classrooms, libraries, laboratories, sports facilities, improve their skills. campuses, etc.). 200 thousand students will be involved in activities of career guidance, as the established 28 centers for career guidance in schools will continue their support during the new programming period. 42,600 teaching professionals will increase their qualification to ensure a higher quality of education. HOW wILL we DEVELOP hIGHER eDUCATION? 90 thousand students will be incorporated into practice in a real working environment to improve the relationship between education and business. 30 thousand students will receive scholarships in disciplines of economic significance. 850 students will participate in mobility programs. over 500 young scientists will receive support in the field of research and development. 4 500 university lecturers will improve their skills. HOW wILL we CREATE eDUCATIONAL envIRONMENT FOR ACTIVE SOCIAL INCLUSION? over 56 thousand children, students and young people from small communities, including roma, will be integrated into the educational system through various activities. 2 300 children and students with special educational needs will gain better access to quality education. 20 thousand persons over the age of 16, including roma, will be included in literacy courses. 14 15 i nvesting in people in nvesting nvesting in people nvesting i fuTure and PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMenT Mobility, retraining and entrepreneurship The european social fund regards the development of human skills and potential as its priority. Because of this much of the funds are given to provide quality and better employment. Job creation and work mobility were part of our priorities during the previous programming period 2007 - 2013: 1 436 companies took advantage of the opportunity to invest in improving working conditions; employment of people who live in a different area was boosted by encouraging employers to hire them and take their travel costs to the working place; encouraged flexible employment measures allowing flexible time, job rotation, and distance working. Better working conditions, more jobs, training and incentive for business 16 17 DEVELOP and Future M essional F ent pro pro F ent essional M DEVELOP Future and Future within the professional mobility process an opportunity is given to postgraduate education, self-employment and entrepreneurship. investments in this area have been allocated as follows: courses to develop entrepreneurial, management and business skills; encouraging the unemployed, including young people to start their own business; financial support for newly registered enterprises and companies; providing consulting services for market researches, analyses, accounting and finance, as well as related national and european legislation. 18 19 DEVELOP and Future M essional F ent pro pro F ent essional M DEVELOP Future and Future in order to increase labor productivity and create conditions for a sustainable employment, qualification services and training for the employees of micro, small, medium and large enterprises are provided. They take courses for professional qualifications and key skills in order

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