The first contracts for the European Union's operational programme Environment were signed on December 15 by the mayors of 13 municipalities and the Environment Miniser Djevdet Chakurov. The total worth of the contracts was evaluated at a total of 234 million leva.

The projects refer to works encompassing a wide range of infrastructure facilities, including refuse dumps, drainage ditches and canals, wastewater treatment stations, as well as logistical and technical support facilities.

Sites that will will be subjected to financing and construction must be completed within three years, and are located in the municipalities of Blagoevgrad, Sliven, Veliko Turnovo, Ovcha Kupel borough in Sofia, Pernik, Kavarna, Primorsko, Rouen, Troyan, Pazardjik, Silistra, Dolen Chiftlik and Gabrovo.

So far, under the operational programme Environment, a total of 869 million leva worth of projects have been approved for wastewater treatment stations, 157 million for technical support in the water sector, and 24 million leva for technical support in the sector waste management.

Two of the completed projects - for the integral management of the water cycle in Vratsa and Gabrovo - are worth over 50 million leva, which means they require approval from the European Commission, according to Chakurov.

Within a month, the 13 municipalities will receive 140 million leva from the negotiated funds as forward payments for the commencement of construction and other preliminary works.

"Until April or by the latest, May, we will be able to proceed further 30 per cent of the contract funds from the Environment operation programme. We aim to use all the available funds from the programme, and then ask for more," Chakurov said, as quoted by Dnevnik daily.