Great expectations for European funding in 2018

According to the published program, call for project proposals should be announced under 17 measures.

After the almost zero past year of EU funding for agricultural projects, the expectations for this year are great. According to the published preliminary schedule, the farmers will have the opportunity to apply under 17 measures under the Rural Development Program. However, the fulfilment depends on the administration, which has to rank the proposals within the deadline.

Ambitious plan for 2018

With total of BGN 2.91 billion will be funded this year direct area payments, market measures, the Rural Development Program and the Maritime and Fisheries Program. Of these, BGN 2.637 billion are from the European funds and nearly BGN 276 million   – national co-financing. This appears from the government’s decision to endorse the annual accounts of the European Union’s funds of State Fund Agriculture for 2018.

BGN 857.9 million are envisaged for rural development. The funds will be mainly for projects under the measures “Investment in tangible assets”, “Development of the economy and economic activity”, “Basic services and renovation of villages in rural areas” and LEADER.

The direct payments are set in the amount of BGN 319.8 million, which will cover the Agri-environment and Climate, Organic agriculture and Natura 2000 sectors. Under the single area payment scheme as well as coupled payments for livestock, fruit, vegetables and others, BGN 1,551 billion have been set.

For the Maritime and Fisheries Program, BGN 38.3 million will be earmarked to finance the measures “Value added, product quality and use of unwanted catches”, “Investment for Improvement of Infrastructure in Fisheries Ports”, “Productive Investment in aquaculture”,”Implementation of the CLLD strategies” and “Processing of fishery and aquaculture products”.

Another BGN 145.2 million will be directed towards market measures, including the National Beekeeping Program, School Fruit Scheme, School Milk Scheme, National Program for Supporting the Wine Sector, Vineyards Restructuring, Promotional Programs, export refunds.

The New Developments

The greatest innovation for 2018 is the electronic application for projects through the Unified Management Information System (UMIS) (for managing and monitoring the funds from the European structural and investment funds), which is already a business practice under the Operational Programs “Innovation and Competitiveness” and “Human resources Development".

An important moment in 2018 is also the forthcoming update of the analysis and implementation strategy of the financial instruments under the Rural Development Program. “As a result of the recent analysis in this programming period, no financial instruments are used – i.e. interest-free or low-interest loans, guarantees, etc. After the new analysis, we will see if the program will also offer financial instruments along with the grants”, Kristina Tsvetanska recalls.

What and how much will be funded

  • BGN 2.91 billion will be targeted this year in agriculture. Of these, BGN 2.637 billion are from the European funds and nearly BGN 276 million – national co-financing
  • BGN 857.9 million are for rural development
  •  Direct payments are BGN 319.8 million
  •  BGN 1,551 billion are for single area payments, as well as coupled payments for livestock, fruits, vegetables, etc.
  •  BGN 38.3 million for the Maritime and Fisheries Program
  •  BGN 145.2 million will be targeted at market measures, including the National Beekeeping Program, School Fruit Scheme, etc.