Parliament has ratified a deal under which Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway will give Bulgaria €119,256,101 in aid from the European Economic Area (EEA) financial mechanism for 2021-2028. The money covers the period from May 2021 to April 2028.
The ratification law, submitted by the Council of Ministers, passed its first and second readings in a single sitting.
See also: Budget committee backs memorandum on €119.25m in EEA grants
On 15 October, four weeks ago, the budget committee backed the ratification, with 17 MPs voting in favour and one against.
The donor countries will first deduct their management and other costs, leaving Bulgaria a net €110,908,174. Bulgaria's planned co-funding is €18,834,706.
The money is meant to reduce economic and social gaps in the EEA and to build closer ties with the donors. Projects will cover three areas: the European green transition. Democracy, the rule of law and human rights. And "social inclusion and resilience".
In favour were 104 MPs from Progressive Bulgaria, 14 each from GERB-SDS and DPS, 11 from Democratic Bulgaria and one from We Continue the Change. Ten MPs from Revival voted against.
Kostadin Kostadinov of Revival believes such a framework exists only for Bulgaria and that it makes discrimination on ethnic grounds legal. He insisted that 10% of the funds in every project under the mechanism be set aside for people who identify as Roma.