The Ministry of Culture officially confirmed the drastic reduction of funding for a large-scale digitization project that threatens the development of Bulgarian libraries and museums. During a parliamentary session, Deputy Minister Associate Professor Dr. Todor Chobanov revealed the critical challenges facing national cultural digitization.
The European Commission undertook unprecedented restrictive measures, reducing the budget by 10 million euros due to significant delays in project implementation. This move practically eliminated the main activities for digitizing cultural heritage that were originally planned.
National Representative Iskra Mihaylova from DPS-New Beginning emphasized the exceptional importance of the project, recalling the significant achievements of Bulgarian libraries such as the Varna Regional Library - a confirmed member of the European platform EUROPEANA.
According to the deputy minister's official position, only "marginal elements" of the original concept remain. The ministry has a digital infrastructure that can store digital content, but without real capacity for large-scale implementation.
"We will be able to provide equipment for only about 30 cultural units, mainly in regional museums," Chobanov was categorical. He emphasized that despite objections to the European Commission, the institution remained uncompromising regarding the reduction of project activities.
A key moment in the discussion was the acknowledgment that the project was compromised from its initial stages. "The delay is not just formal, but structural," explained the deputy minister, pointing out that the sequence of activities is of exceptional importance.
National Representative Lyuben Dilov from GERB-SDS described what happened as a "catastrophe due to subjective reasons," emphasizing the project management's inability to conduct a timely competition.
Minister of Culture Marian Bachev confirmed administrative changes, with the only action taken being the dismissal of the project leader. This move symbolizes an attempt at an institutional response to the created crisis.
Despite the dramatic reduction, the Ministry of Culture states that they continue to seek alternative mechanisms for partial compensation of the loss. They are counting on future European instruments that could restore part of the original digitization plan.
Experts emphasize that this failure could have long-term consequences for the digital transformation of Bulgarian cultural heritage, delaying modernization and European integration processes in the cultural sphere.