Support under this programme seeks complementary actions to achieve Bulgaria's regional and urban development policy's objectives to tackle imbalances in the country.

Budget allocation: € 1 543 182 113 (2014-2020)

Funding priorities

39 urban centres (Level I, II and III cities) in Bulgaria are the main target group of the programme; the latter focuses on eight priority axes:

SMEs are the main target group of this Operational Programme (2014-2020). The programme's strategy, as a part of the implementation of the EU structural and investment funds (ESIF) in Bulgaria, is closely related to the EU objectives for growth and jobs, and Bulgaria‘s contribution to 'Europe 2020' targets.

Budget allocation: € 1 270 135 903 

Subsidy sizes depend on the enterprise, region and other conditions, and vary between 25 % and 100 % of total cost (subsidies may also be subject of minimum and maximum limits).

Financial programme intended primarily for innovative cooperation projects conducted between companies, as well as R&D institutions, in relevant clusters, such as Cleantech, and focused on technology and organisation. The aim is to address the needs of SMEs.

Maximum funding per partner: € 30 000 (technology) / € 15 000 (organisation)

Maximum funding per project: depends on the number of project partners (technology) / € 50 000 (organisation)

With this energy checklist, companies can quickly determine whether there is still room for improvement in terms of energy savings. The checklist covers electricity applications like energy management, lighting, computer and IT services, compressed air, pumps, ventilators, drives, electric heat, and cooling energy. It also covers heating and hot-water consumption, process-heat consumption, heat generation and distribution, and steam systems.

EcoBusiness Plan Vienna, Austria provides services and support to companies implementing environmentally-relevant measures, helping them to reduce operating costs. It funds consultancy services encouraging businesses to reduce their environmental impact. In individual meetings, consultants develop solutions tailored to the needs of each business. The offer includes professional advice, help with the practical implementation of measures, legal certainty, and effective public relations work.

The Circulator is a web-based tool developed in a framework of the project of the same name (funded by EIT Raw Materials) that helps companies to navigate potential circular strategies and learn from inspiring cases.

The tool helps SMEs incease their resilience, or their capacity to face and anticipate changes in the market. Resilience Design helps in the co-creation of sustainable and resilient projects to stimulate business and build a sustainable strategy. The tool offers several analysis methods and can be adapted to various business situations and sectors.

The Ecodynamic Enterprise Label rewards Brussels-based companies that introduce eco-management principles into their activities, especially in terms of waste management and prevention, rational use of energy, management of worker mobility, etc. The Label does not apply to eco-products or eco-services.

For detailed information you can contact the Label Helpdesk.

Construction and renovation projects requiring a town planning permit or notification must meet a number of requirements laid out in the EU's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), such as a maximum insulation level (K-level), maximum energy level (E-level), minimum share of renewable energy, and indoor climate quality (adequate ventilation, heating etc.).

The European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) are available to European regions and aim to bridge the gaps between European regions. Interreg programmes target cooperation between different regions. Both ERDF Flanders and ERFD Interreg programmes are centralised along several axes. Within some of those axes, specific SME investment in resource efficiency can be subsidised. For instance, within one of the axis of ERDF Flanders, there is a specific target on increasing SME energy efficiency, including company buildings and production processes.