Bulgaria is continuing apace with infrastructure projects across the country. The majority of these projects are being funded via financing from the EU structural funds. The Transport Operational Programme 2007 to 2013, aimed to subsidise key projects to upgrade Bulgaria's roads and railways, is one of the ways the country will access finance. This programme includes more than a dozen projects and has a budget of over two billion euros.
The amount earmarked for the development of the railway infrastructure along the trans-European and key national routes in Bulgaria is 580 million euros. Close to one billion euros will go to construction of large fast highways and to upgrading the road network.
Priority for 2009 will go to the completion of Struma Highway (part of trans-European corridor No. 4) and Maritza Highway to the Turkish border linking to the international E 80 route. A priority project for the railways is the modernisation of the railroad network to Svilengrad on the border with Turkey.
Construction of the second Danube bridge will continues. Lyulin Highway connecting the Sofia Ring Road with Strouma Highway is among priority projects too. The extension of the Sofia Underground will continue to progress, which should create a fast connection between the Central Railway Station and Sofia Airport. European investments into it amount to 185 million euros.
Bulgaria will be actively using the Jasper European Programme which delivers technical assistance on large projects. By end-January it will become clear whether this EU programme will open an office in Sofia. The European Investment Bank, which has expertise to control implementation of projects, is likely to open an office in the capital too.