I look forward to making the necessary efforts to complete by the end of the year the activities under OP Transport and Transport Infrastructure (OPTTI) 2014-2020. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Anna Natova at the opening of the third meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Transport Connectivity Programme (TCP) 2021-2027 in Plovdiv.
"We are at the end of the programme's eligibility period. This requires full mobilization. We must also maintain a high pace of work on the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027. The planned projects under the new programme are closely linked to the previous one, so it is important to have continuity and a smooth transition without causing delays, which I will closely monitor," Deputy Minister Anna Natova said.
The Head of the Managing Authority of the TCP Martin Georgiev announced that the OPTTI 2014-2020 can be successfully completed if the measures taken to optimize the program and the expected completion by the end of the year of Struma Motorway, Lot 3.1 Zheleznitsa Tunnel are implemented.
So far, under the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027, the Managing Authority has developed grant guidelines for 8 direct award procedures containing conditions for application and implementation of projects. In June 2023, seven calls for proposals related to rail and road transport, urban intermodality and technical assistance were launched.
The Priority 3 procedure "Improving intermodality, innovation, modernised traffic management systems, improving transport security and safety" is open for applications on 31 August 2023.
Criteria have been prepared for the competitive selection of project proposals under the "Support to Intermodal Operators" procedure. A procedure for "Construction of charging infrastructure for alternative fuels on the national road network and in ports" is under way. The first application form for the Programme (the second phase of the Plovdiv — Burgas railway project) has been submitted for approval.
The conference was attended by Agnes Monfre, Head of Unit for Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovenia at DG Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission, representatives of JASPERS, beneficiaries of OP Transport and Transport Infrastructure 2014-2020 and Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027, as well as representatives of institutions and NGOs.
