Eng. Blagoy Kozarev Participated in the First Meeting of the Joint Working Group between MRDPW and BCC

Last week, the first meeting of the working group for operational interaction on current issues concerning construction was held at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW). The consultative body was created by MRDPW and the Bulgarian Construction Chamber (BCC). Eng. Blagoy Kozarev – member of the Executive Bureau and the Board of BCC, head of the "Hydro-technical Construction, Water Supply and Sewerage Networks and Facilities" section at the Chamber, participated in the working meeting, addressing issues related to the state of the water sector in the country. The working group participants were informed about the success achieved by the Chamber, which, together with the Ministry of Environment and Water, prepared standardized documents for conducting public procurements and awarding project implementation in the "Water" sector. According to Eng. Kozarev, "The documents have been approved by the Minister of Finance, published on the Public Procurement Agency's website, and since September 10, are mandatory for application by public procurement contracting authorities for infrastructure projects in the sector."

Another important highlight in Blagoy Kozarev's speech was the need for implementing public-private partnerships (PPP) in the water supply and sewerage sector. He explained that financing for the construction of nearly 200 treatment plants in small settlements with less than 2000 residents cannot be provided through the EU operational programs. "It is precisely through PPP that these projects can be realized, and Bulgaria can fulfill its commitments as an EU member state," said Eng. Kozarev, emphasizing that the Chamber has repeatedly supported the search for workable solutions and is ready to continue doing so in the future.

The working group also discussed issues related to changes in the Spatial Planning Act, the Central Professional Register of Builders (CPRB), and the Chamber's ideas for combating the gray economy. Topics concerning the Public Procurement Act, the Operational Program "Regions in Growth 2014-2020," and the opportunities for more flexible planning of project budgets by beneficiaries were also addressed. Finally, the widespread problem of the lack of personnel was discussed.