On 3 April 2009 the European Investment Bank (EIB) opened a new JASPERS Office in Sofia to bring services helping to develop projects qualifying for EU Fund financing closer to customers in Bulgaria.
JASPERS (Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions) was set up by the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the KfW Bankengruppe to assist the twelve Member States which joined the EU in 2004 and 2007 to make use of EU Structural Funds faster and more effectively.
Matthias Kollatz-Ahnen, EIB Vice-President responsible for JASPERS, commented: “JASPERS is increasingly becoming a significant tool for the twelve EU Member States, including Bulgaria, that joined the Union after 2004 to help them better prepare projects proposed for EU Fund financing. The office opened in Sofia today will be a new interface to facilitate the sharing of JASPERS’ professional experience with our counterparts in Bulgaria.”
In Bulgaria, JASPERS has been invited to deal with all major projects that are envisaged to be submitted for EU Fund financing during the programming period. For example, JASPERS advised on the preparation of project applications for water projects in Gabrovo and Vratsa as well as the Sofia Metro project. Up to now eight JASPERS assignments have been completed. The 2009 Action Plan has just been finalised and comprises 50 assignments, including the Sofia Waste Management and large projects in the roads and rail sectors.
In general, to date JASPERS has completed 116 project assignments and is actively providing assistance with over 400 projects that, if approved by the European Commission, will absorb investment of more than EUR 50 billion.