A network of car parks in the country, FAST Danube 2 and two railway projects are the approved investments under the programme
The European Commission has approved four Bulgarian projects under the Connecting Europe Facility 2021—2027. This became clear during the regular meeting of the CEF Committee held in Brussels. Their total value is almost EUR 169 million, of which just over EUR 143 million is Cohesion Package funding.
The joint Bulgarian-Romanian project FAST Danube 2 has received the green light from the European Commission. It is prepared in partnership between Bulgaria and Romania and includes dredging and strengthening works in the common part of the river to ensure good navigation conditions 340 days a year. The project will significantly improve the connectivity of the Danube region and facilitate the movement of freight and passengers on the main TEN-T network. Its total cost is almost 112 million euros, of which 95 million euros are EU funds.
Approximately EUR 27 million is the approved European funding for the project ‘Safe and secure network of parking lots for heavy goods vehicles to achieve smart mobility in Bulgaria’ of the Association ‘Automotive Cluster Bulgaria’. The project marks the beginning of a network of car parks in the country connected to an electronic booking system that will allow companies to better plan their trips and stays in Bulgaria. It includes the construction of four new parking areas with six parking lots and a total capacity of 426 parking spaces for heavy vehicles. They will be located in the districts of Sofia, Pernik and Pazardzhik, and this network will be gradually upgraded. The project is expected to start in September this year and be completed by February 2027.
Among the approved investments are two projects in the railway sector. For the modernization of the traction substations Chervena Voda and Hitrino 12.4 million euro were allocated to National Railway Infrastructure Company. The second project is for the development of the railway network on the territory of port terminals ‘Burgas-East 2’ and ‘Burgas-West’. It includes the construction of about 4 km of new railway tracks and a new marshalling yard at the port. Increasing the capacity of the railway lines in the port of Burgas will significantly improve the connections between rail and sea transport. The total value of the activities is EUR 10.7 million and the beneficiary is ‘BMF Port Burgas’ EAD.