A new territorial scope of regions in Bulgaria in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics is prescribed by a Regional Development Bill, which Parliament approved on first reading on March 6, Bulgaria News Agency (BTA) reported.
The bill preserves the defined types of regions for targeted impact, and their specific territorial scope is defined by a regional strategy for development, the Council of Ministers said in its reasoning for the bill.
The adoption of a new regional development law is based on the need for substantial change of the national legal framework in the field of regional policy and regional development in accordance with the conditions of Bulgaria's full EU membership. The bill serves to update and clarify the goals of the law in conformity with the new strategic orientation of the European cohesion policy for the period between 2007 and 2013.
