The Bulgarian Government is currently negotiating for another loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for additional financing along the framework of the Ispa pre-accession aid programmes.

The funds are essential for transport and other infrastructure schemes in order for them to proceed, said Regional Development Minister Rossen Plevneliev, in an interview for Stroitelstvo Gradut.

The minister did not reveal the remaining projects in need of additional financing but noted that the previous cabinet had not signed any agreements with the EIB for the projects in question. According to Plevneliev, the Government is conducting negotiations for one billion euro.

On September 9-10, Plevneliev and Deputy Regional Development Minister Lilyana Pavlova Nikolova  presented a report in Brussels accounting for the tasks completed so far under the aforementioned programmes, and those that have been delayed.

"By the beginning of December, we should be informed by the Committee of the Cohesion Fund as to which Ispa projects will be postponed," said Pavlova, quoted by Stroitelstvo Gradut.

"We received an initial approval from the EC for the postponement of certain projects, but the final and official decision will be made only after the evaluation of the committee, which means that not all projects will be delayed, and those that are, will not be allocated the identical time-period, but each one will be evaluated individually and acted upon accordingly," she said.

According to Plevneliev, the main obstacles plaguing the infrastructure projects in the country are in the transport and environmental ministries.