On 18 May 2018, the eighth meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Science and Education for Smart Growth Operational Programme 2014-2020 took place.

The head of the Managing Authority of Science and Education for Smart Growth Operational Programme, Kiril Geratliev informed the participants that the payments from the European Commission to the programme have been reimbursed. By letter from the Director General of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, the Bulgarian side has been informed as follows: "The conditions for lifting the warning for a possible interruption of the payment deadline in relation to Science and Education for Smart Growth Operational Programme have been met."

During the meeting the criteria for selection of operation and methodology and the criteria for technical and financial evaluation of the procedure "Active inclusion in the pre-school education" under Priority Axis 3 "Educational Environment for Active SOCIAL inclusion" The specific beneficiary is the Ministry of Education and Science. The budget is BGN 82.5 million. The main objectives of the operation are as follows:

- to support the early inclusion and educational inclusion of children from vulnerable groups in pre-school education;

- to support their access to quality education;

- to strengthen their social acceptance and convergence for their growth as complete citizens and for successful professional, social and personal realization.

Activities are planned to include 50 000 children in 1 500 kindergartens throughout the country.

The annual report on the implementation of Science and Education for Smart Growth Operational Programme 2014-2020 for 2017 was also approved.

The Committee also adopted an amendment to the Indicative Annual Work Programme of Science and Education for Smart Growth Operational Programme for 2018.