The Council of Ministers Approved New Payments of More than BGN 14.9 Million to Hoteliers Who Accommodated Ukrainian Refugees

The Council of Ministers adopted three decisions on the approval of assistance to applicants under the programmes for the use of humanitarian aid for persons seeking temporary protection in Bulgaria as a result of the military operations in Ukraine. The decisions of the Council of Ministers concern a first payment for the months of November and December under the second programme and a supplementary payment for the period of the first programme. The total payment is BGN 14,908,887.40. 

The first payment decision covers the sixth reporting period and the period from 01 November 2022 to 15 November 2022, for which the provision of assistance in the amount of BGN 2,807,802.45 million including VAT for accommodation and food or accommodation only under the Programme for Humanitarian Aid to Displaced Persons from Ukraine with Temporary Protection in the Republic of Bulgaria (List No 14) has been verified. This is aid for 192,451 overnight stays, including accommodation and provision of breakfast, lunch and dinner to persons from Ukraine granted temporary protection in the Republic of Bulgaria, based on 206 applications submitted by accommodation and shelter facilities.

The second payment decision is for the seventh accounting period and covers the period from 16 November 2022 to 31 December 2022. For the period, aid in the amount of BGN 6,389,579.25 including VAT for accommodation and food or accommodation only under the Programme for Humanitarian Aid to Displaced Persons from Ukraine with Temporary Protection in the Republic of Bulgaria (List No 15) has been verified. The funds were allocated for a total of 391,147 overnight stays of persons from Ukraine granted temporary protection in the Republic of Bulgaria, based on 179 applications submitted by accommodation and shelter facilities.

The third decision is about the additional payment under the first programme for the period since the beginning of the hostilities in Ukraine, when the aid amounted to 40 BGN per person — from 24 February 2022 to 31 May 2022. The provision of aid in the total amount of BGN 5,711,506.00 including VAT for accommodation with food under the Programme for the Use of Humanitarian Aid for Persons Seeking Temporary Protection in the Republic of Bulgaria (List No 13) has been verified.

With the adoption of the Act, a total of 160 applications submitted by persons providing humanitarian aid, amounting to 133,879 overnight stays and meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for refugees, will be paid.