REGIONAL INFORMATION CENTER, KYUSTENDIL

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

Lyubomira Velinova Regional Information Center, Kyustendil

6 – 7 June 2012Kyustendil, Bratstvo 1869 Public Chitalishte

EU FUNDS:EU FUNDS: CREATING TOGETHERCREATING TOGETHER. .

OPPORTUNITIES AND PARTNERSHIPSOPPORTUNITIES AND PARTNERSHIPSRIC Kyustendil and Glob@l RIC Kyustendil and Glob@l

Libraries – Bulgaria Libraries – Bulgaria

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)

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.

RIC GOALS

Enhance public awareness about EU Cohesion Policy and financial instruments in Bulgaria

Ensure publicity and transparency of the implementation of projects funded by the Operational Programs among current and potential beneficiaries, media and the general public

Guarantee the right to access to information for all social, ethnic and age groups within Kyustendil district

TARGET GROUPS

Local and regional authorities NGOs Business Media representatives General public

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.

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Unified information portal for EU SCF in BulgariaUnified information portal for EU SCF in Bulgaria::

www.eufunds.bg

http://www.facebook.com/pages/eufundsbg/163113773755742

ЕДИНЕН ИНФОРМАЦИОНЕН ПОРТАЛ ЗА СФ НА ЕС

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

The unified information portal for EU SCF in Bulgaria contains The unified information portal for EU SCF in Bulgaria contains information aboutinformation 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

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Unified Management Information System (UMIS) for Structural Unified Management Information System (UMIS) for Structural and Cohesion Funding Instruments and Cohesion Funding Instruments

http://umispublic.minfin.bg/

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Unified Management Information System for Structural Unified Management Information System for Structural and Cohesion Funding Instruments 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.

European Commission websiteEuropean Commission website: : http://ec.europa.eu/index_bg.htmhttp://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

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

European Commission Representation in Bulgaria websiteEuropean Commission Representation in Bulgaria website: : http://ec.europa.eu/bulgaria/index_bg.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/bulgaria/index_bg.htm

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Contains information about Community programs, the Cohesion Policy, other sources of financial assistance, tenders and grants, ongoing calls for proposals

Rural Development Programhttp://prsr.government.bg/ CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION BULGARIA – MACEDONIAhttp://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

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 grantshttp://www.motopfohe.bg/read_text.php?tid=60

LINKS TO OTHER FUNDING PROGRAMS

OPEN CALLS

OPDCBE 3 open calls for business

OPRD 1 call for municipalities within the 36 urban agglomeration areas

OPHRD 4 calls for proposals targeted at business, municipalities and NGOs

Further information for all interested parties about requirements, eligible expenditure and deadlines is available at the office of RIC Kyustendil.

THE PLACE OF THE NGO SECTOR THE PLACE OF THE NGO SECTOR IN KYUSTENDIL DISTRICTIN KYUSTENDIL DISTRICT

IN THE PROCESS OF EU STRUCTURAL AND IN THE PROCESS OF EU STRUCTURAL AND COHESION FUNDS ACQUISITION COHESION FUNDS ACQUISITION

Total No. of contracts: 96

Total amount:

BGN 140,534,168

of which grants:

BGN 133,769,033

Beneficiaries: 49

KYUSTENDIL DISTRICTAT 16 MAY 2012

Registered: 33

Complete: 33

In process of implementation: 13

Suspended: 2

Terminated: 15

KYUSTENDIL DISTRICTBENEFICIARIES

Municipalities

NGOs

Business

Schools

Schools

Business30%

NGOs12%

Municipalities 48%

KYUSTENDIL DISTRICTIN THE SOUTHWEST PLANNING REGIONAT 16 MAY 2012

Districts in the region

No. of contracts

Total amount in

BGN

Grant amount in BGN

Paid fundsin 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

NGO PROJECTS IN THE SOUTHWEST REGION AT 16 MAY 2012

Districts in the region

No. of contracts

Total amount in BGN

Grant amount in BGN

Paid fundsin 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

NGO PROJECTS IN THE SOUTHWEST REGION AT 16 MAY 2012

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

Total amount in BGN

Grants in BGN

Paid funds in BGN

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTIONTHANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!

Lyubomira VelinovaManager of RIC Kyustendil

phone: 0876 172 766

Kyustendil 18 Patriarch Evtimiy St. е-mail: oic_kn@abv.bg

phone/fax: 078 52 02 12