1. REGIONAL INFORMATION CENTER,
KYUSTENDIL
EU FUNDS:
CREATING TOGETHER.
OPPORTUNITIES AND PARTNERSHIPS
RIC Kyustendil and Glob@l
Libraries – Bulgaria
Lyubomira Velinova
Regional Information Center, Kyustendil
6 – 7 June 2012
Kyustendil, Bratstvo 1869 Public Chitalishte
Project “Establishment of a Regional Information Center in Kyustendil Municipality”,
Contract No. BG161PO002-3.3.02-0016-C0001, funded by Technical Assistance Operational Program, co-financed by
the European Union through the
European Regional Development Fund

2. RIC KYUSTENDIL
 The Regional Information Center in Kyustendil was established under
the project “Establishment of a Regional Information Center in Kyustendil
Municipality”, funded by Technical Assistance Operational Program under
Contract No. BG 161PO002-3.3.02-00016-C0001
 Beneficiary: Kyustendil Municipality
 Project partners: Sapareva Banya Municipality and Bobov Dol
Municipality
 Project duration: 36 months
 Total project amount: BGN 358,196.21
 RIC Kyustendil team: manager and two experts
 RIC Kyustendil address: Kyustendil, 18 Patriarch Evtimiy St. (Bratstvo
1869 Public Chitalishte)

3. THE NETWORK
 RIC Kyustendil is part of the national
network of 27 regional information centers
promoting the European cohesion policy and
its objectives in Bulgaria.
 Established in partnership between local
authorities and central government;
monitored by the Minister of EU Funds
Management; methodologically managed by
the Information and EU Funds Management
Systems Directorate and the Central
Information and Coordination Office at the
Council of Ministers.

4. RIC GOALS
 Enhance public awareness about EU Cohesion Policy and financial
instruments in Bulgaria
 Guarantee the right to access to
information for all social, ethnic and
age groups within Kyustendil district
 Ensure publicity and transparency of the
implementation of projects funded by the Operational
Programs among current and potential beneficiaries,
media and the general public

5. TARGET GROUPS
 Local and regional authorities
 NGOs
 Business
 Media representatives
 General public

6. RIC SERVICES
Provision of information services; communication, expert and logistic
functions for promotion of the EU Cohesion Policy within Kyustendil
Municipality.
The RICs do not provide methodological assistance or participate in
project proposal preparation by applicants from the respective district
or elsewhere.

7. RIC KYUSTENDIL AND THE
GLOB@L LIBRARIES –
BULGARIA
INFORMATION EXCHANGE
 Provision of basic and specific information about the NSRF and the
Operational Program by phone, via email and/or on-site; answering
questions, including referral to specialized sources of information
 Provision of information and open call documents for Kyustendil
district and distribution to the smallest settlements with users of the
Glob@l Libraries network
 Distribution of free information materials published by the EC and
other EU institutions, the Managing Authorities, or produced under
projects co-financed by the SCF

8. RIC KYUSTENDIL AND THE
GLOB@L LIBRARIES –
BULGARIA
INFORMATION EXCHANGE
 Provision of information about SCF-funded projects in Kyustendil
district – exchanged experience and successful projects
 Provision of links to electronic information about other funding
programs

9. RIC KYUSTENDIL AND THE
GLOB@L LIBRARIES –
BULGARIA
COMMUNICATION INTERACTION
 Referral of RIC Kyustendil clients to libraries for usage of ICT
(computers, multifunctional devices) and free access to the internet
assisting the technical preparation of their project proposals
 Participation in discussions on different EU Cohesion Policy aspects,
including the next programming period 2014 – 2020

10. RIC KYUSTENDIL AND THE
GLOB@L LIBRARIES –
BULGARIA
EXPERT COOPERATION
 Provision and clarification of information to potential beneficiaries
about application opportunities under the Operational Programs
 Participation in events organized by RIC Kyustendil to promote OPs –
customized to the specific needs of the district
 Assessment of information needs and facilitation of the access to
information
 Preparation and monthly provision of information about the EU, its
cohesion policy, up-to-date news about funding opportunities (if
requested)

11. RIC KYUSTENDIL AND THE
GLOB@L LIBRARIES –
BULGARIA
LOGISTIC SUPPORT
 Provision of opportunities for on-site access to specific literature,
information resources
 Provision of access to a computer with internet connection

12. WHAT LIES AHEAD
 Information meetings by municipalities customized to the specific
needs of the individual regions and target groups
 Media publications on topics of current interest
 Organization of training to clarify the role and opportunities provided
by the EU SCF in Bulgaria
 Forum on the topic “Strengths and Weaknesses, Opportunities and
Threats in the Process of EU SCF Funds Acquisition in Kyustendil District”
 Studying and presentation of “good practices”
 Stimulation of dialogue between partners on the new 2014 – 2020
programming period

13. SOURCES OF
INFORMATION
Unified information portal for EU SCF in Bulgaria:
www.eufunds.bg
http://www.facebook.com/pages/eufundsbg/163113773755742
ЕДИНЕН ИНФОРМАЦИОНЕН ПОРТАЛ ЗА СФ НА ЕС

14. SOURCES OF
INFORMATION
The unified information portal for EU SCF in Bulgaria contains
information about:
 The seven Operational Programs
 EU policies and programs:
- Regional Policy
- Territorial Cooperation
- Schengen Facility
- EEA Financial Mechanism and Norwegian FM
- Swiss Contribution to Bulgaria
- Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policy
- Other EU programs and initiatives
 Up-to-date information
 Legislation

15. SOURCES OF
INFORMATION
Unified Management Information System (UMIS) for Structural and
Cohesion Funding Instruments
http://umispublic.minfin.bg/

16. SOURCES OF
INFORMATION
Unified Management Information System for Structural and
Cohesion Funding Instruments – a monitoring and financial
reporting system which ensures efficient and transparent EU funds
management
Daily management and monitoring of the implementation of each
project under the seven Operational Programs at all levels: procedure,
beneficiary, OP sub-priority and priority axis
Effective control through follow up activities by the Managing
Authorities, the Certifying Authority and the Audit Authority on double
funding, expenditure conformity and eligibility.

17. SOURCES OF
INFORMATION
European Commission website: http://ec.europa.eu/index_bg.htm
The European Commission allocated part of the EU budget to companies
and organizations in the form of:
 calls for tender
 grants
 microfinance

18. SOURCES OF
INFORMATION
European Commission Representation in Bulgaria website :
http://ec.europa.eu/bulgaria/index_bg.htm
Contains information
about Community
programs, the Cohesion
Policy, other sources of
financial assistance,
tenders and grants,
ongoing calls for
proposals

19. LINKS TO OTHER
FUNDING PROGRAMS
 Rural Development Program
http://prsr.government.bg/
 CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION BULGARIA – MACEDONIA
http://www.ipa-cbc-007.eu/page.php?c=56
 CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION BULGARIA – SERBIA
http://www.ipacbc-bgrs.eu/
 TULIP FOUNDATION
http://www.tulipfoundation.net/id-6/Home.html
 FLGR – Foundation for Local Government Reform
http://www.flgr.bg/bg

20. LINKS TO OTHER
FUNDING PROGRAMS
 NATIONAL CENTER “European Youth Programs and Initiatives”
http://www.youthbg.info/bg/nceypi/
 EMEPA – Enterprise for Management of Environmental Protection
Activities
http://pudoos.bg/
 America for Bulgaria Foundation
http://www.americaforbulgaria.org/page/home
 Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF) – NGO Capacity
Building Fund
 European Youth Foundation
 Conservation and environmental grants
http://www.motopfohe.bg/read_text.php?tid=60

21. OPEN CALLS
OPDCBE 3 open calls for business
1 call for municipalities within the 36 urban
OPRD
agglomeration areas
4 calls for proposals targeted at business,
OPHRD
municipalities and NGOs
Further information for all interested parties about requirements, eligible expenditure and
deadlines is available at the office of RIC Kyustendil.

22. THE PLACE OF THE NGO SECTOR
IN KYUSTENDIL DISTRICT
IN THE PROCESS OF EU STRUCTURAL AND
COHESION FUNDS ACQUISITION

23. KYUSTENDIL DISTRICT
AT 16 MAY 2012
 Total No. of contracts: 96
 Registered: 33
 Total amount:
 Complete: 33
BGN 140,534,168  In process of implementation: 13
of which grants:  Suspended: 2
BGN 133,769,033  Terminated: 15
 Beneficiaries: 49

24. KYUSTENDIL DISTRICT
BENEFICIARIES
Schools
Municipalities
48%
Business
30%
Municipalities
NGOs
Business
Schools
NGOs
12%

25. KYUSTENDIL DISTRICT
IN THE SOUTHWEST PLANNING
REGION
AT 16 MAY 2012
Total Grant
Districts in the No. of Paid funds
amount in amount
region contracts in BGN
BGN in BGN
Pernik 76 78 920 111 74 548 114 41 551 538
Kyustendil 96 140 534 168 133 769 033 16 272 726
Blagoevgrad 194 216 969 597 201 058 536 57 967 254
Sofia District 188 303 584 092 283 910 252 55 652 914
TOTAL 554 738 981 676 692 410 011 170 730 576

26. NGO PROJECTS
IN THE SOUTHWEST
REGION
AT 16 MAY 2012
Grant
Districts in the No. of Total amount Paid funds
amount
region contracts in BGN in BGN
in BGN
Kyustendil 10 1 120 744 1 107 507 669 069
Pernik 10 1 381 169 1 371 990 861 973
Sofia District 15 1 840 503 1 815 266 1 146 978
Blagoevgrad 21 3 406 868 3 392 962 2 585 866
TOTAL 56 7 749 284 7 687 725 5 263 886

27. NGO PROJECTS
IN THE SOUTHWEST REGION
AT 16 MAY 2012
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
Total amount in BGN
1,500,000
Grants in BGN
1,000,000 Paid funds in BGN
500,000
0

28. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
Lyubomira Velinova
Manager of RIC Kyustendil
phone: 0876 172 766
Kyustendil
18 Patriarch Evtimiy St.
е-mail: oic_kn@abv.bg
phone/fax: 078 52 02 12