EU funds amounting to EUR 7 billion have been approved in the last two months under seven operational programmes. The money will support the Bulgarian economy over the next six years, Deputy Premier Atanas Pekanov said at a briefing at the Council of Ministers. Bulgaria co-finances these programmes with more than EUR 1 billion. 

In Atanas Pekanov's words, the funding is extremely important for the country's economy, the small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as for the country’s critical infrastructure. Atanas Pekanov stressed that a lot of funds have been provided for human capital development and the protection of the most vulnerable groups of the population. On the other hand, the country must ensure strict control in order to achieve the desired effect, Deputy Premier Pekanov noted.