Our concern was to calm the situation on the ground.

Today, 400 military personnel were deployed to restore critical infrastructure.

All streets and bridges will be restored within 3 weeks.

This is of primary importance.

We are working to assess the damage.

At the beginning of October, we will submit a request to the European Commission about what part of the damage will be covered by the Solidarity Fund.

In the meantime, the national budget can allocate funds to help these people.

This is what the acting Deputy Prime Minister for the Management of European Funds, Atanas Pekanov, said in an interview for the show "More of the Day"

Atanas Pekanov is an economist at the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (WIFO), in Vienna.

The state gives another BGN 10 million to the municipalities of Karlovo, Kaloyanovo and Maritsa after the floods

He also commented on the funds under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, reminding that Bulgaria sent its first request for payment to the EC at the end of last month.

"We received several comments, several documents need to be sent.

We expect to receive this money in the fall.

They are for all projects in the Plan.

The Ministry of Innovation and Growth already has an open program for BGN 250 million.

grants for technological modernization related to digitalization of businesses", added Pekanov.

Deputy Prime Minister Pekanov: At the end of the month, we will submit the first request for payment under the Recovery Plan

A photovoltaic program for companies will also be opened.

"This is the most correct investment at this moment.

In the medium term, it will reduce energy costs.

Another procedure will be opened for about BGN 200 million for excellence, discoveries for companies that have made something innovative that they want to start producing", explained Atanas Pekanov

Atanas Pekanov is an economist at the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (WIFO), in Vienna.

With the money from the Recovery Plan, the so-called

STEM centers in schools.

In them, children will be able to visually acquire their knowledge of physics, chemistry and biology.

In order for Bulgaria to receive the funds under the Plan, the parliament must approve 22 legislative changes.

"They are currently being made.

We are working extremely actively to finalize these bills and have them submitted to the parliament in mid-October," commented the Deputy Prime Minister.

Deputy Prime Minister Pekanov with details of the Euro billions under the Recovery Plan

According to him, the Green Deal remains relevant and would give Europe greater independence from geopolitical conflicts in the future.

"In the short term, in an environment of high inflation, the commitments made in the short term do not look as realistic as they did a year ago," he added.

Pekanov added that at the moment it is not known how Bulgaria, for example, will fulfill its commitment to reduce emissions from coal plants by 40%.

The Deputy Prime Minister declared himself "in favor" of the idea of ​​the EU placing joint orders for the export of gas.

According to him, with greater bargaining power, the chances for profitable deals are many times better.

Atanas Pekanov