Article 1
Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1343 is amended as follows: (1) Article 2 is amended as follows: (a) paragraphs 1 and 2 are replaced by the following: ‘1. The Union shall make available to Bulgaria a loan amounting to a maximum of EUR 971 170 000. The loan shall have a maximum average maturity of 15 years. 2. The availability period for financial assistance granted by this Decision shall be 39 months starting from the first day after this Decision has taken effect.’; (b) paragraph 4 is replaced by the following: ‘4. The first instalment shall be released subject to the entry into force of the loan agreement provided for in Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/672. Any further instalments shall be released in accordance with the terms of that loan agreement or, where relevant, be subject to the entry into force of an addendum thereto, or of an amended loan agreement concluded between Bulgaria and the Commission replacing the original loan agreement.’; (2) Article 3 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 3 Bulgaria may finance the following measures: (a) wage subsidies to undertakings provided for in Decree No 55 of 30 March 2020 of the Council of Ministers; (b) wage subsidies to undertakings provided for in Decree No 151 of 3 July 2020 of the Council of Ministers, as amended by Decree No 278 of 12 October 2020, Decree No 416 of 30 December 2020, Decree No 93 of 18 March 2021, Decree No 213 of 1 July 2021, Decree No 322 of 7 October 2021, Decree No 482 of 30 December 2021 and Decree No 40 of 31 March 2022.’; (3) Article 4 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 4 1. Bulgaria shall inform the Commission by 30 March 2021, and every six months thereafter of the implementation of the planned public expenditure until that planned public expenditure has been fully implemented. 2. Where measures referred to in Article 3 are based on planned public expenditure and have been subject to an implementing decision amending this Decision, Bulgaria shall inform the Commission within six months of the date of adoption of that amending implementing decision, and every six months thereafter of the implementation of the planned public expenditure until that planned public expenditure has been fully implemented.’.