MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS . Directorate General “Programming of Regional Development” OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME “REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT” 2007-2013 Sofia, September 2007 1 Operational Programme “Regional Development” 2007-2013 September 2007 TABLE OF CONTENT 1. BACKGROUND______________________________________________________________ 6 1.1. Introduction _____________________________________________________________________________6 1.2. Programming process _____________________________________________________________________6 1.3. Legislative framework______________________________________________________________________7 1.4. Assumptions ____________________________________________________________________________7 2. THE EU AND NATIONAL POLICIES CONTEXT ______________________________________ 8 2.1. Lisbon and Göteborg Agendas _______________________________________________________________8 2.2. Community Strategic Guidelines on Cohesion 2007-2013 (CSG) ______________________________________8 2.3. National Reform Programme (NRP)____________________________________________________________9 2.4. National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) ________________________________________________10 2.5. National Regional Development Strategy (NRDS) ________________________________________________10 2.6. Regional Development Plans _______________________________________________________________11 2.7. District Development Strategies, Municipal Development Plans and Spatial Plans _______________________11 3. SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS _________________________________________________ 11 3.1. Eligible geographical area under the Convergence objective _______________________________________11 3.2. Past experience and lessons learned from the period 2000-2006_____________________________________12 3.3. The Bulgarian regions: inter-regional and intra-regional disparities __________________________________14 3.3.1. Regional economic performances and growth ________________________________________________14 3.3.2. Sectoral profile of the regions ___________________________________________________________16 3.3.3. Entrepreneurship ____________________________________________________________________17 3.3.4. Innovations and ICT __________________________________________________________________18 3.3.5. Investments ________________________________________________________________________19 3.3.6. Human resources and labour market ______________________________________________________19 3.3.7. Equality between men and women________________________________________________________23 3.3.8. Road infrastructure___________________________________________________________________24 3.3.9. Environment _______________________________________________________________________25 3.3.9.1. Social infrastructure________________________________________________________________27 3.3.9.2. Educational infrastructure____________________________________________________________27 3.3.9.3. Healthcare infrastructure ____________________________________________________________27 3.3.9.4. Social care infrastructure ____________________________________________________________29 3.3.9.5. Cultural infrastructure_______________________________________________________________32 3.4. Urban development ______________________________________________________________________37 3.4.1. Settlement network___________________________________________________________________37 3.4.2. Highly urbanised territories (urban agglomerations) ____________________________________________40 3.4.2.1. Human resources _________________________________________________________________40 3.4.2.2. Economic performances and potentials __________________________________________________44 3.4.2.3. Knowledge and innovations __________________________________________________________45 3.4.2.4. Industrial business zones ____________________________________________________________45 3.4.2.5. Healthcare resources_______________________________________________________________46 3.4.2.6. Housing ________________________________________________________________________47 3.4.2.7. Physical environment and public works, culture, and cultural-historical heritage______________________50 3.4.2.8. Environmental Protection Infrastructure __________________________________________________51 3.5. Regional accessibility and transport endowments _______________________________________________52 3.5.1. Transport accessibility ________________________________________________________________52 3.5.2. Urban transport and transport services to surrounding areas _____________________________________54 3.5.3. ICT development ____________________________________________________________________57 3.5.4. Accessibility to natural gas supply ________________________________________________________58 3.6. Tourism _______________________________________________________________________________64 3.7. Summary outcomes and findings of the analysis ________________________________________________69 3.8. Local institutional and capacity issues ________________________________________________________71 3.8.1. Description of the municipal competencies __________________________________________________71 3.8.2. Project development capacity and absorption of resources_______________________________________73 3.8.2.1. Administrative capacity______________________________________________________________73 3.8.2.2. Information and communication _______________________________________________________74 3.8.2.3. Financial resources ________________________________________________________________74 3.8.2.4. Skills for partnership and cooperation with other stakeholders __________________________________74 3.8.2.5. Investment opportunities in the municipalities/small municipalities _______________________________75 2 Operational Programme “Regional Development” 2007-2013 September 2007 3.9. SWOT ANALYSIS ________________________________________________________________________78 4. OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGY _________________________________________________ 81 4.1. General and specific objectives _____________________________________________________________81 4.2. Development strategy_____________________________________________________________________81 4.3. Outline of the chosen priority axes ___________________________________________________________86 4.4. Indicators and targets at programme level _____________________________________________________87 4.5. Summary findings of ex-ante evaluation _______________________________________________________87 4.6. Summary findings of Strategic Environmental Assessment ________________________________________92 5. DESCRIPTION OF PRIORITY AXES______________________________________________ 96 5.1. Priority Axis 1: Sustainable and Integrated Urban Development _____________________________________96 5.1.1. Operation 1.1. Social Infrastructure ______________________________________________________102 5.1.2. Operation 1.2. Housing ______________________________________________________________103 5.1.3. Operation 1.3. Organisation of Economic Activities ___________________________________________104 5.1.4. Operation 1.4. Improvement of Physical Environment and Risk Prevention __________________________105 5.1.5. Operation 1.5. Sustainable Urban Transport Systems _________________________________________107 5.2. Priority Axis 2: Regional and Local Accessibility _______________________________________________109 5.2.1. Operation 2.1. Regional and Local Road Infrastructure ________________________________________112 5.2.2. Operation 2.2. ICT Network ___________________________________________________________113 5.2.3. Operation 2.3. Access to Sustainable and Efficient Energy Resources _____________________________114 5.3. Priority Axis 3: Sustainable Tourism Development ______________________________________________117 5.3.1. Operation 3.1. Enhancement of tourism attractions and related infrastructure_________________________121 5.3.2. Operation 3.2. Regional Tourism Product Development and Marketing of Destinations __________________122 5.3.3. Operation 3.3. National Tourism Marketing _________________________________________________124 5.4. Priority Axis 4: Local development and co-operation ____________________________________________126 5.4.1. Operation 4.1. Small-scale Local Investments _______________________________________________128 5.4.2. Operation 4.2. Inter-regional Cooperation __________________________________________________130 5.5. Priority Axis 5: Technical Assistance ________________________________________________________132 5.5.1. Operation 5.1. Programming, Management, Monitoring, Evaluation and Control ______________________134 5.5.2. Operation 5.2 Communication, Information and Publicity _______________________________________135 5.5.3. Operation 5.3 Capacity Building of OPRD Beneficiaries ________________________________________136 6. Management and implementing provisions ______________________________________ 139 6.1. Designation of competent authorities and bodies _______________________________________________139 6.1.1. Managing Authority (MA)______________________________________________________________139 6.1.2. Beneficiaries ______________________________________________________________________142 6.1.3. Certifying Authority (CA) ______________________________________________________________142 6.1.4. Internal Audit Unit___________________________________________________________________142