Paweł Samecki, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, is visiting the north-east and south-east regions of Bulgaria on November 26 and 27 "to see first-hand how the European Union's cohesion policy is helping to improve citizens' quality of life and providing support for local businesses," the EC said in a statement.

He will visit EU-funded projects in the cities of Bourgas and Varna, including environmental, educational and social developments.

Samecki will be joined by Rosen Plevneliev, Minister for Regional Development and Public Works, and Nona Karadjova, Minister of Environment and Water.

Speaking before his visit, Samecki said: "Between 2007 and 2013, Bulgaria will benefit from 9.5 billion euro in EU investment for economic, social and rural development. Cities like Varna and Bourgas can use this support to become growth-engines for their areas and for the surrounding regions. I am looking forward to seeing what has already been achieved on the ground and to finding out more about new and planned developments."
 
In Bourgas, Samecki will meet mayor Dimitar Nikolov and representatives of regional and local authorities, who will present several examples of EU-funded projects, including a much-needed new household sewage network in the Dolno Ezerovo district (EU contribution: 2.7 million euro), the EC said.
 
Improving educational infrastructure is one of the priorities for the cohesion policy in Bulgaria, the EC said, and Samecki will see plans for the renovation of the St Cyril and Methodius primary school and kindergarten in Sredetz.
 
The municipal road network in Bourgas is also receiving significant EU investment – 2.3 million euro in total – to improve safety and make social, educational and health services more accessible for the local population, the EC said.

Samecki will also visit the new Cultural Youth Centre in Bourgas, which employs 58 people and is used by dancing schools, folklore ensembles - including children from the Roma minority - music bands, pensioner clubs etc. It forms part of a wider project to improve cultural infrastructure in the Burgas municipality (EU contribution: 2.7 million euro) .
 
In Varna, Samecki will meet mayor Kiril Yordanov and the regional and local authorities, as well as business organisations and socio-economic partners.
 
"He will see how relatively small community investments can make a big difference to local companies, especially in terms of their competitiveness," the EC said.
 
Beneficiaries of funding include:

·                    The Iglika Manova company, which makes plastic bottles and other plastic products, was able to buy a new high-speed processing machine, enabling it to increase its production capacity;

·                    The Bela Trade Company, which produces PVC and aluminium window frames and glazing for construction sites, was able to expand thanks to the grant through the European Regional Development Fund.

The north-east region is also prioritising modernisation of educational infrastructure: for example, five schools and two kindergartens in Aksakovo, an area where the population is mostly of Roma origin, have received funding for renovation work (EU contribution: 2.8 million euro).

In his meetings with the ministers and regional leaders, Samecki will emphasise that implementation of projects supported by the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund are progressing well in Bulgaria, according to the EC statement.
 
More than a billion euro, 23 per centofavailable funding from the two funds, has already been allocated.
 
However, Samecki will emphasis the need for effective financial controls and close monitoring of project implementation to ensure the EU's investment delivers the best possible results, the EC said.