The first new calls for new NSRF 2021/27 programmes are expected close to Easter. The Competitiveness Programme (EPANEK) is expected first. Ministry of Development and Investment the relevant departments are preparing feverishly.

According to officials of the Ministry of Development and Investments, the services are already working on the approvals of the new NSRF. And this so that no time is wasted. There should also be no "funding gap" between the two programming periods, while the law on the new NSRF is expected to be passed by the beginning of March, and comments on all the programs are expected from Brussels.

Our country was the first among the member states of the European Union to receive the "green light" from Brussels at the end of last July for the "central NSRF". It was again the first country to submit all the programs last October. However, final approval by the E.U. expected by March. This is because the European Commission itself is in an internal audit phase and several procedures have been frozen.

In the meantime, the public consultation on the draft law entitled: "Management, control and implementation of development interventions for the Programming Period 2021-2027" is completed. By the end of February, it will go to Parliament for a vote. The draft law is a necessary condition in order to activate the new programs.

Green and digital transition NSRF 2021/2027

The preparations for the first actions to be announced, which will support small and medium-sized entrepreneurship, concern the most important and largest pillars, namely investments for the green and digital transition of businesses and fall under under the "umbrella" of the "Competitiveness" program, amounting to 3.9 billion euros, of the total 26,18 billion euro of the new NSRF.

In addition, the basic philosophy is not to have many different invitations but large invitations, of a horizontal nature. In practice, this means simultaneous access to financing, businesses from many sectors of the economy. Indicatively, it is pointed out that businesses of retail, tourism and other sectors can be included in an action to upgrade fixed assets on a digital or green level. The aim is to keep the invitations open, with a constant increase in the budget. In this way it will be achieved that there is a continuous flow of results, entries and payments. Depending on the investment, a reasonable period of time will be given to the business to make its investment, and in the event that the investment is not made, it will be automatically delisted, so that the next business endeavor is included.

It is also considered that the invitations go out at regular intervals, so that the interested party knows in advance that e.g. the invitation he is interested in will be issued in September.

The responsibility for the management of the programs remains with the Ministry of Development and Investments. Exceptions are the PEPs and the Digital policy program. So the design also concerns this area.

Services and structures

A process of mergers of staff structures is underway, two new agencies are being introduced to "run" state aid projects and a separate structure is being created specifically for the regions, because better coordination is needed there and the assistance given to them will be multi-level.

In addition, a new unit is created to separate the actions of the Recovery Fund. The Special State Support Service is being strengthened in the part of managing financial tools. In addition, a memorandum of cooperation is being prepared with the social partners, for the resources that will be managed by the new NSRF and exactly what actions they will implement.

At the same time, a system is being developed to:

• double funding is avoided
• to have a clear strategy, what will be financed by the NSRF
• what will be financed by the Recovery Fund

There will also be synergies between the different Funds. In addition, a project maturation mechanism was established, of which HRDF is the main vehicle. In other words, the projects that will be prioritized by the Government Committee for Strategic Public Contracts that need special care will be directed to HRDF. These are projects of the Recovery Fund which exceed 50 million euros and NSRF projects which exceed 30 million euro.