The criteria for the procedure for the construction of charging stations for cars and trucks on the TEN-T network are ready. This was stated in Burgas by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov at a meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Transport Connectivity Programme. Methodology and criteria for the procedure, which is planned to be announced in November 2024, are to be approved during the meeting.
‘For the first time, the Transport Connectivity Programme goes beyond the first two programming periods and will no longer work only with pre-defined projects and beneficiaries. This applies to the two grant schemes to support existing intermodal operators and to build charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and in ports’, the minister added. The budget for the charging infrastructure is BGN 92 million, of which BGN 42.4 million are earmarked for the construction of stations for electric vehicles on the highways and roads, part of the TEN-T network. Another 49.6 million BGN will support the charging infrastructure in the ports for public transport.
In support of green transport and the reduction of harmful emissions are also the projects to increase the capacity of port terminals, Georgi Gvozdeykov further emphasized. He announced that financial assistance has been secured under the project of the Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company for capital dredging in the port of Burgas. It is worth BGN 70 million and provides for the extension of the water area of part of the port terminal Burgas—West. This will allow for the safe entry and berthing of larger ships and create the conditions for the development of the terminals and increase their capacity.
In the framework of the Monitoring Committee it was reported that 92.07% of the budget of the Operational Programme on Transport and Transport Infrastructure 2014—2020 has already been disbursed and this process is ongoing. The certified expenditure is 86.8% and the certified expenditure is 85.96%.
The Committee was attended by Sofia Alves, Director of the Directorate for Administrative Capacity Building and Programme Implementation II at 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.
