OPERATIONAL PROGRAMMEOPERATIONAL PROGRAMME

“DEVELOPMENT OF THE “DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE

BULGARIAN ECONOMY”BULGARIAN ECONOMY”

Republic of Bulgaria Republic of Bulgaria

Ministry of Economy and EnergyMinistry of Economy and Energy

April 2006April 2006

Operational programmes in BulgariaOperational programmes in Bulgaria

2007-2013 Total OP Budget

Transport12%

Environment12%

Regional Development12%

Administrative capacity1%

47%

Human resources8%

Competitiveness8%

Competitiveness

Human resources

Transport

Environment

Regional Development

Administrative capacity

Basic document for absorption of EU SF resources for programming period 2007-2013

One of the six OPs under the NSRF

Ministry of Economy and Energy – Managing Authority and responsible for its elaboration

OP Work group - wide representation according the Partnership principle – socio-economic partners, NGOs, academic circles, state administration

Information and Publicity – public forums, seminars, discussions.

Operational Programme “Development of the Operational Programme “Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy” Competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy”

Operational Programme “Development of Operational Programme “Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian

economy”economy”

Corresponds to the NSRF strategic priority for acceleration of economic growth through increasing the competitiveness of the country’s economy

Horizontal Programme

Financed under ERDF

Managing Authority – “Pre-accession Programmes and Projects” Directorate, Ministry of Economy and Energy

Institutional framework of OP CompetitivenessInstitutional framework of OP Competitiveness

Beneficiaries

Priority 1

Monitoring Committee

Intermediate body - BSMEPA

Beneficiaries

OP “Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian

Economy”MoEE

Priority 2

Direct Contracts for implementation

Priority 4Priority 3

Final recipients

Main elements of OP “Development of the Main elements of OP “Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy”Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy”

• Socio-economic analysis

• SWOT analysis

• Priorities and operations

• Justification of the priorities, coherence with NSRF and Community Strategic Guidelines and ex-ante evaluation

• Financial plan

• Information for complementarity and demarcation

• Management structure of OP

Operational Programme “Development of the Operational Programme “Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy”Competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy”

Global ObjectiveGlobal Objective:: Development of dynamic economy competitive on

the EU and international markets

Specific objectivesSpecific objectives:: Encouragement of innovations and increasing the

efficiency of enterprises Improvement of business environment

Priority objectives of OP “Competitiveness”Priority objectives of OP “Competitiveness”

1. Improvement of development opportunities for technology start-ups 2. Dynamisation of the process of development and implementation of

new technologies and procedures by SMEs3. Improvement of the access of SMEs to pro-innovation networks and

services4. Modernization of technologies and management in SMEs5. Reduction of energy intensity and diversification of energy resources

used6. Strengthening the production capacity and market access through

utilization of the advantages of business cooperation7. Easing the conditions for credits to SMEs8. Ensuring finances for high risk investments9. Ensuring better accessible and qualitative consultancy and information

services for business 10. Easing non-tariff restrictions facing Bulgarian products11. Increasing the volume and the economic effect of investments attracted12. Ensuring qualitative and up-to-date information on external markets

Priority Axis of OP “Competitiveness”Priority Axis of OP “Competitiveness”

1. Development of knowledge-based economy and innovation activities

2. Business development

3. Improvement of the access to finances

4. Strengthening the international market positions of the Bulgarian economy

5. Technical Assistance

Priority Axis CompliancesPriority Axis Compliances Lisbon Agenda:

Investing in Research & Development, Boosting Innovation; “Creating a friendly environment for starting up and developing innovative

businesses, especially SMEs” “Economic reforms for a complete and fully operational internal market”.

Community Strategic Guidelines Priority I “Making Europe and its regions a more attractive place to invest and work”

– III “Address Europe\s intensive use of traditional energy sources”; Priority II “Improving knowledge and innovation for growth” – V “Increase and

improve investment in RTD”, VI “Facilitate innovation and promote entrepreneurship”

EU Directive 2001/77 encouraging the energy produced from RES; Directives in the field of energy efficiency

European chapter for small enterprises “Education and training for entrepreneurship”; “Availability of skills”, “More out of

the Single market”; “Strengthen the technological capacity of small enterprises”;

National policies and strategies• Energy Strategy, National Program for Energy Saving 2004-2014, Branch Short-

term Program for Energy Efficiency 2005-2007 National Strategy for SMEs Development Promotion 2002 – 2006-Priorities -

Encouragement of the entrepreneur spirit and skills

Priority Axis 1: “Development of a knowledge-based Priority Axis 1: “Development of a knowledge-based economy and innovation activities”economy and innovation activities”

Operations:

1. Support for technological start-ups

2. Increasing innovation capacity of enterprises through stimulation of knowledge dissemination

3. Improvement of pro-innovative business-support infrastructure

4. Support for intellectual property

Priority Axis 2 “Priority Axis 2 “Business DevelopmentBusiness Development””

Operations:

1. Projects for SMEs for technology development and renovation

2. Creation of Business support networking

3. Support for introduction of energy saving technologies and RES utilization

4. Support for networking and clustering - strengthening the productive capacity through networking and clustering

Priority Axis 3 “Improvement of the access to finance for Priority Axis 3 “Improvement of the access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises”micro, small and medium-sized enterprises”

OperationsOperations::

1. 1. Support for Guarantee Funds

2. Support for Venture Capital Funds

3. Support for Micro-Loan Funds

Priority Axis 4 “Strengthening the international market Priority Axis 4 “Strengthening the international market positions of Bulgarian economy”positions of Bulgarian economy”

OperationsOperations::

1. Support for attracting investors (project(s) of Bulgarian Investment Agency)

2. Support for export promotion (project(s) of BSMEPA)

3. Support for development of national quality infrastructure

Where are we now?Where are we now?

The Council of Minister has approved preliminary draft of all six OPs – 27th December 2005

OP Ex-ante evaluation is ongoing

Information and consultation process – stakeholders, potential beneficiaries, etc.

Preparation of “project pipeline” – information and training events for potential beneficiaries

Informal missions with EC and preliminary comments

New regulations to be adopted

Official negotiation process to start

CONTACT DETAILSCONTACT DETAILS

Ministry of Economy and EnergyMinistry of Economy and Energy

Pre-accession Projects and Programmes Pre-accession Projects and Programmes Directorate (Managing Authority)Directorate (Managing Authority)

Tel. + 359 2 940 75 01Tel. + 359 2 940 75 01

Fax: + 359 2 981 17 19Fax: + 359 2 981 17 19

www.www.iaphareiaphare.org.org

www.www.meemee.government..government.bgbg

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!