Bulgaria launches first online application system for EU funds
It is now possible to apply entirely online for funding under operational programs of the European Union, the Bulgarian government has announced.
Two pilot online application schemes for the 2014-2020 programing period are now available for the Human Resource Development operational programme and Innovations and Competitiveness operational programme.
“The electronic application does not just modernise of the process and facilate institutions and beneficiaries. It also guarantees public activities transparency and prevention of corruption,” Deputy Prime Minister for European Funds and Economic Policy Tomislav Donchev said, according to a government media statement.
The online application process, now fully available for OP Human Resource Development and partially available for OP Innovations and Competitiveness builds on the existing opportunity for online processing of projects, the statement said.
Each EU member state has a commitment to develop and implement its own information system for management, implementation, and monitoring of operational programmes co-financed by the Cohesion and Structural Funds of the European Union.
Bulgaria’s Information System for Management and Monitoring of EU Funds – ISMM 2020 – was funded under OP Technical Assistance and is managed by the Council of Ministers’ EU Funds Management Systems Directorate.
The statement said that the system makes it possible to track each operational programme, procedure, and contract for the provision of financial assistance.
Information is directly filled by users.
On submission of proposals, information is filled in by candidates and registered by the system for further processing and use.
All documents can be submitted online with an electronic signature. Unified forms allowing structuring of information and receiving reports and analyses according to various criteria (i.e. programme, region, beneficiaries, candidates, etc.) have been developed, the statement said.
ISMM 2020 is designed to collect and process data for the seven operational programs of the new 2014-2020 programming period: Good Governance; Transport and Transport Infrastructure; Regions in Growth; Human Resources Development; Innovations and Competitiveness; Environment; Science and Education for Intelligent Growth.
The two pilot application schemes for which on-line applications are being accepted are: Improving the Production Capacity of SMEs under OP Innovations and Competitiveness and Independent Living under OP Human Resources Development. The goal of the former application scheme is to provide investment support to small and medium enterprises to improve production processes, increase production capacity and enhance export potential.
Under the Independent Living scheme, all municipalities and regions of municipalities in partnership with social service providers will be able to apply with projects worth from 80 000 leva up to 500 000 leva (about 40 000 to 250 000 euro) in funding for measures aimed at the development of integrated services ( in-home or within the community) for social inclusion of people with disabilities and persons incapable of self-service.
ISMM 2020 is available online at HTTPS://EUMIS2020.GOVERNMENT.BG . It is entirely web-based and requires a web browser only, the government statement said.
(Photo: Zsuzsanna Kilian/sxc.hu)
