The Commission welcomes the signature yesterday of an agreement between the Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria (FMFIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), setting the first Cohesion Policy backed financial instrument for the water and wastewater sector in Bulgaria. With €115 million from the Cohesion Fund and national co-financing, together with additional resources from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and private sources, this agreement is expected to trigger up to €230 million of investment, to provide 16 regional water operators with access to finance for the delivery of quality service to citizens...
With the funding, operators will be able to run and upgrade their water supply, waste water and water treatment facilities. Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu said: “This agreement shows that financial instruments have the power to multiply the benefits of Cohesion Policy investments, also in public services. Thanks to this agreement, 220,000 Bulgarian citizens will have access to better water supply and 1.5 million to improved waste water treatment.” In the 2014-2020 period, over €1 billion from the Cohesion Fund will be invested in better water supply and water treatment in Bulgaria. 