Program "Development of the Regions" 2021-2027

The RDP focuses on territorial policy objective 5 "A Europe closer to citizens", but as interventions under this objective may include measures addressing all other policy objectives, the RDP will also contribute to their implementation, especially with regard to the envisaged measures related to industrial zones, EE and sustainable mobility, infrastructure for sectoral policies related to policy objective 4, etc.

The RDP will be implemented through the application of instruments for integrated territorial development, incl. ITIs to achieve better investment focus, more effective and efficient interventions, enhanced cross-sectoral dialogue between different stakeholders.

The RDP includes 2 specific priorities - one for integrated urban development and another for integrated territorial development of NUTS 2 regions. There is also a priority for technical assistance to facilitate the implementation of the new territorial approach.

All urban municipalities in Bulgaria are in the focus of the RDP. The ten large municipalities will be supported under Priority 1 for integrated urban development, and all other medium and smaller 40 urban municipalities will be supported under Priority 2 for integrated regional territorial development.

At the same time, with a view to promoting urban-rural functional links, infrastructure investments outside the scope of the Common Agricultural Policy and falling within the scope of the RDP (health infrastructure, industrial zones, sustainable urban mobility, energy efficiency in residential buildings, tourism) will be financed on the territory of rural municipalities, subject to a proven contribution to the development of the region.

These investments must also meet the requirement of consistency with the ITSD and with the relevant maps at national level. Priority will be given to integrated projects with an economic orientation or implemented by economic operators, leading to economic benefits and results for the target area.

The integrated nature of investments and the bottom-up approach are key to the implementation of the RDP 2021-2027. In order to ensure the implementation of the national priorities of the different sectoral policies, the bottom-up approach is foreseen to be implemented in coordination with the top-down approach, which requires all supported interventions to be consistent with the objectives of the sectoral policies.

The participation of the widest possible range of stakeholders and the involvement of local communities in the implementation of the programmes is not only the basis of the integrated territorial approach envisaged for implementation under Priority 2, but will be applied as a fundamental principle in the implementation of each of the priorities of the RDP.

Similarly to the Regional Development Councils (the territorial bodies responsible for the pre-selection of ITI concepts under Priority 2), the implementation of Priority 1 foresees the establishment of a Selection Committee that includes in its composition representatives of all stakeholders in the municipality concerned.

The principle of partnership will be respected throughout the implementation of the RDP. This will also be one of the main elements of the evaluations planned under the Programme.