Updated last 18.06.2025
Strategic objective The strategic objective of the Regional Development Program 2021–2027 aligns with the main goal of Bulgaria’s regional development policy, namely to create viable, strong, and sustainable regions as a response to adverse demographic trends and the deepening of inter-regional and intra-regional disparities.
To achieve the stated strategic objective, the following specific objectives must be met:
- Address negative demographic trends and reduce regional population disparities;
- Increase the economic growth of Bulgarian regions;
- Promote balanced territorial development through a polycentric network of cities, supported by integrated investments.
Approach to implementation:
The program will be implemented through integrated territorial development, including Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI). An approach based on Integrated Urban Development will be applied through plans for integrated development of 10 urban municipalities, which will be responsible for selecting and implementing funded projects. At the same time, the principle of partnership between urban municipalities and local stakeholders will be applied.
Integrated territorial development:
Integrated territorial strategies (ITS) will be used for the development of regions at Level 2. Regional Development Councils (RDCs) will be responsible for implementing the strategies and for the preliminary selection of projects and measures that will receive funding. Projects will be targeted to territories with common characteristics and development potential, and the most appropriate combination of resources and measures will be applied to achieve the stated objectives and ITS priorities.
How is the budget distributed?:
Priority 1: Integrated Urban Development
The main objective is to improve the quality of life and growth in medium and large cities in Bulgaria.
Indicative measures of support:
- Infrastructure measures to promote economic activity.
- Energy efficiency and renovation of residential and public buildings.
- Sustainable urban mobility.
- Road infrastructure, functional connections, and road safety.
- Green urban infrastructure and safety in public spaces.
- Educational infrastructure.
- Municipal housing provision.
- Health and social infrastructure.
- Culture and sports.
- Tourism.
Priority 2: Integrated Territorial Development
Objective: Support territorial strategies and projects that cannot be financed through sectoral programs.
Indicative measures:
- Support for health and social infrastructure, including kindergartens.
- Educational infrastructure, including kindergartens and vocational training.
- Cultural infrastructure.
- Sports infrastructure.
Priority 3: Fair Energy Transition
Objective: Support for regions affected by the transition to a climate-neutral economy.
Support measures:
- Productive investments in passenger transport.
- Investments in the creation of new enterprises.
- Research and development and innovation activities.
Priority 4: Technical Assistance
Objective: To ensure effective management and implementation of the program.
Support measures:
- Information and communication.
- Preparation, implementation, monitoring and control.
- Strengthening the capacity of the Managing Authority (MA), beneficiaries, and partners.
What is the size of the program budget?
The size of the budget is 94.5 million euros
What are the ways to apply for funding?
To create and submit a project proposal for a specific procedure under the program, you must register in the UMIS system.
The system is interactive and user-friendly. If you encounter difficulties when submitting a project proposal, you can consult the user guide published to guide and assist users.
On the official program website, for a specific procedure you can find information on how, to whom, and within what deadlines you can ask additional questions and seek clarifications regarding the Procedure’s Terms for Applicants.
What are the conditions for applying to procedures under the program?
For each procedure there are published “Application Conditions,” where you will find detailed information tailored to the specifics of the chosen procedure:
- goals, indicators of the procedure;
- the total amount of non-repayable financial assistance under the procedure;
- minimum (if applicable) and maximum amount of non-repayable financial assistance for a specific project;
- co-financing rate;
- the criteria your business must meet to be eligible;
- activities eligible for funding;
- eligible and ineligible costs under the procedure;
- minimum and maximum project duration;
- applicable regime of minimum/state aid;
- the rules, criteria, and methodology by which project proposals are evaluated, both for administrative compliance and eligibility, and for the technical and financial evaluation requirements;
- the method and deadline for obtaining clarifications about the procedure.
When can I apply for procedures under the program?
You can apply for funds under the program depending on the submission deadlines for project proposals for each procedure until the end of the operational program in 2027.
Evaluation of project proposals proceeds in two stages, as follows:
Stage 1
Evaluation of administrative compliance and eligibility – this evaluation addresses, for example, the following questions: have all required documents been submitted; is the project proposal correctly submitted; is the KEП (electronic signature) valid for signing; is the power of attorney for submitting the project proposal valid; does it comply with the specific eligibility criteria listed in the Application Conditions, and other aspects.
This stage also includes verification and evaluation of the realism, effectiveness, and eligibility of all planned activities and costs (whether the project proposal includes ineligible activities, ineligible and/or unrealistic costs, duplication of planned activities and/or costs).
Stage 2
Technical and financial evaluation. The technical and financial evaluation is conducted only for project proposals that have successfully passed Stage 1 administrative compliance and eligibility evaluation. At this stage, the technical capacity of the participants, the environmental impact of the project, compliance with the indicators and priorities of the procedure, partnerships, and other aspects are evaluated.