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OPRD
The Operational Programme "Regional Development" plays an important role in driving the development of urban agglomerations and is a major source of investment funds for municipalities.
The Operational Programme Regional Development (OPRD) has been developed in accordance with the objectives of the European Union, defined in the Strategic Guidelines for Community Cohesion for the period 2007-2013, and laid down in the National Strategic Reference Framework of the Republic of Bulgaria. It is also in line with the National Reform Programme established in accordance with the renewed Lisbon Strategy in response to the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs. In this broader context, all actions foreseen under the ODA will incorporate Community priorities that support sustainable development by strengthening growth, competitiveness and employment, social inclusion, environmental protection and quality.
The overall objective of the OPERD 2007-2013 is to improve the quality of life and the working environment with better access to basic services and new opportunities for increased regional competitiveness and sustainable development. The strategy of the ODA is to increase the competitiveness and attractiveness of regions and municipalities and to reduce disparities between and especially within the six NUTS II planning regions by improving the industrial, residential, social, environmental and cultural environment of urban areas and the accessibility of rural areas in terms of road, information and communication as well as energy networks.
While the other operational programmes address development objectives and priorities, emphasizing national policy and only partially reflecting Bulgaria's regional characteristics, the role of the OP "Regional Development" is to propose a set of integrated measures that contribute to the achievement of the country's long-term development objectives, while also incorporating territorial growth factors. Some of the proposed operations are implemented in partnership and coordination with different sectoral policies, while others are subject to regional policy alone.
ODA also has a positive impact on private investment, government investment, private consumption, government consumption, exports, imports, the number of employees and average wages. The results of the impact assessment carried out for the Operational Programme Regional Development 2007-2013 show that the overall conclusion that can be drawn regarding the effectiveness of the 2007-2013 ODA is that the Programme is highly effective. The sustainability analysis shows that the design of the ODA interventions in practice guarantees institutional sustainability, as the beneficiaries of the Operational Programme (e.g. central and municipal authorities) are themselves characterised by high sustainability. More information on the 2007-2013 ODA can be found here.
Operational Programme "Regions in Growth" 2014-2020, which is the successor of Operational Programme "Regional Development" 2007-2013, has a total budget of over BGN 3 billion, European and national co-financing and plays an extremely important role for the sustainable and balanced regional development of Bulgaria until 2023.
The programme proposes new implementation approaches for the country based on lessons learned from the previous programming period. Good examples and practices are maintained and built upon. The main differences from the previous period are significant. Firstly, the Programme proposes a new strategic approach to implementation, based on strategic planning at local and national level, including the identification of key projects and beneficiaries under the priority axes, a greater focus of investments, integration and better coordination to implement specific national and local policies.
The operational programme supports reforms in several sectors, namely - regional development, education, health and social policy. At the same time, the programme is oriented towards creating growth and employment in the regions, through urban development measures, regional tourism and new financial instruments. The 2014-2020 ODA supports the polycentric development of the Bulgarian territory, which will lead to curbing the negative migration processes towards Sofia and the big cities, leading to depopulation of large parts of Bulgaria.
The main focus of the programme is to implement a targeted policy for sustainable and integrated urban development in 39 large and medium-sized cities under Priority Axis 1 "Sustainable and Integrated Urban Development". More information on the 2014-2020 ODA can be found here.