On July 12 the National Assembly passed changes to the Memorandum of Understanding between Bulgaria and the European Community for development of scientific research and technologies.

According to the changes Bulgaria's membership fee for 2006 would be reduced by 50 per cent, Bulgarian National Radio reported.

In this way Bulgaria saves nearly 6.5 million leva which would be invested in financing projects stated as priorities in a EU framework programme. The applicant projects would undergo a tender procedure.

The Cabinet would finance only the projects contributing to improving the competitiveness of Bulgarian science and guaranteeing the successful participation of Bulgarian scientific organisations and universities in international consortia.

The aim of the programme is to re-structure efficiently the scientific development sector in the country and to increase the amount of state investment in scientific development to three per cent of the GDP.