REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTORATE GENERAL PROGRAMMING OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Managing Authority of Operational Programme Regional Development 2007–2013 ANNUAL REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2007–2013 FOR 2012 CONTENTS 1. IDENTIFICATION ........................................................................................................ 6 2. OVERVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME 6 2.1. Results achieved and progress analysis ................................................................................................................. 6 2.1.1. Information on the physical progress of the operational programme .................................................................. 9 2.1.2. Financial information (all financial data are expressed in Euro) ..................................................................... 10 2.1.3. Information about the breakdown of use of the Funds ..................................................................................... 13 2.1.4. Assistance by target groups .................................................................................................................................. 16 2.1.5. Assistance repaid or re-used – ............................................................................................................................. 16 2.1.6. Qualitative analysis .............................................................................................................................................. 17 2.2. Information about compliance with Community law ........................................................................................ 21 2.3. Significant problems encountered and measures taken to overcome them ..................................................... 21 2.4. Changes in the context of the operational programme implementation (if relevant) ..................................... 28 2.5. Substantial modification pursuant to Article 57 of Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 (if relevant) ................... 29 2.6. Complementarity with other instruments ........................................................................................................... 29 2.7. Monitoring and evaluation ................................................................................................................................... 31 2.7.1. Monitoring ............................................................................................................................................................ 31 2.7.2. Programming 2014–2020 ..................................................................................................................................... 38 2.7.3. Evaluation ............................................................................................................................................................ 39 2.8. National performance reserve (where applicable and only for the annual implementation report submitted for 2012) ............................................................................................................................................................................. 42 3. IMPLEMENTATION BY PRIORITY AXES ................................................................ 42 3.1. Priority Axis 1 „Sustainable and integrated urban development“ ................................................................. 42 3.1.1. Achievement of targets and analysis of the progress .......................................................................................... 43 3.1.2. Qualitative analysis .............................................................................................................................................. 49 3.1.3. Significant problems encountered and measures taken to overcome them ........................................................ 75 3.2. Priority Axis 2 „Regional and Local Accessibility“ ........................................................................................... 75 3.2.1. Achievement of targets and analysis of the progress .......................................................................................... 75 3.2.2. Qualitative analysis .............................................................................................................................................. 78 3.2.3. Significant problems encountered and measures taken to overcome them ........................................................ 83 3.3. Priority Axis 3 „Sustainable tourism development“ ......................................................................................... 83 3.3.1. Achievement of targets and analysis of the progress .......................................................................................... 83 3.3.2. Qualitative analysis .............................................................................................................................................. 86 3.3.3. Significant problems encountered and measures taken to overcome them. ....................................................... 98 3.4. Priority Axis 4“Local development and cooperation“ ...................................................................................... 98 3.4.1. Achievement of targets and analysis of the progress .......................................................................................... 98 3.4.2. Qualitative analysis ............................................................................................................................................ 100 3.4.3. Significant problems encountered and measures taken to overcome them ...................................................... 108 2 4. ERDF/CF FUNDED PROGRAMMES: MAJOR PROJECTS ....................................... 109 5. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ......................................................................................... 110 5.1. Achievement of targets and analysis of the progress ............................................................................................ 111 5.1.1. Information on the physical progress of the priority axis ................................................................................. 111 5.1.2. Information on the financial progress of the priority axis ............................................................................... 113 5.2 Quantitative analysis ................................................................................................................................................. 113 5.3 Significant problems encountered and measures taken for their resolution ....................................................... 123 6. INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY ................................................................................ 123 3 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS NEA National Employment Agency RIA Road Infrastructure Agency SAA Social Assistance Agency GA Grant Assistance RES Renewable Energy Sources DG “PRD” Directorate General Programming of Regional Development GIS Geographic Information System SACP State Agency for Child Protection SG State Gazette VAT Value added tax MSCIC Medical and Social Care Institution for Children EIB European Investment Bank EC European Commission EU European Union ERDF European Regional Development Fund ESF European Social Fund PP Act Public Procurement Act LRAI Legislation, Risk Assessment and Irregularities SD Act Spatial Development Act EA ECNIS Executive Agency Electronic Communications Networks and Information Systems IPP Implementation of programme priorities MMIS Management and Monitoring Information System MC Monitoring Committee CP Communication Plan MUPT Mass urban public transport MoEET Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism MoEYS Ministry of Education, Youth and Science MoEW Ministry of Environment and Water MoRDPW Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works MoTITC Ministry of Transport, Information Technology, and Communications MoF Ministry of Finance NIICH National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage OSPPA Ordinance for Small Public Procurement Award NSDC National Spatial Development Concept NGO Non-governmental organisations OPRD MIM OPRD Management and Implementation Manual OP Operational Programme OPRD Operational Programme “Regional Development” 2007–2013 OP HRD Operational Programme Human Resource Development 2007–2013 ODIP Organisational Development, Information and Publicity BIR Base interest rate EAC Ex-ante Control CMD Decree of the Council of Ministers RDP Rural Development Programme PE Programming and Evaluation RD Regional Department GBUA Gross built-up area MFIP Medium-term Framework Investment Programme 4 SSO Standalone site owner SF Structural Funds MA Managing Authority PME Programme Management and Evaluation FA Financial Activities FMC Financial Management and Control HF Holding Fund 5 ANNUAL IMPLEMENTATION REPORT 1. IDENTIFICATION OPERATIONAL Objective concerned COHESION PROGRAMME Eligible area concerned Republic of Bulgaria Programming period 2007–2013 Programme number (CCI No) 2007BG161PO001 Programme title REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2007– 2013 ANNUAL Reporting year 2012 IMPLEMENTATION Date of approval of the annual 28.05.2013 REPORT report by the monitoring committee 2. OVERVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME 2.1. Achievement and analysis of the progress In 2012, the MA of OPRD focused its efforts on accelerating the contracting, verification, enhancement, and optimisation of procedures, as a result