The grant scheme aimed at providing gratuitous financial assistance to tens of thousands of small and micro companies in Bulgaria to the tune of EUR 1,500-EUR 5,000 has not started yet due to the delay of the expected permission from the European Commission. The EU has to approve the use of EUR 86.5 million from the Innovations and Competitiveness operational programme. Representatives of the Information System for Management and Supervision of EU Funds in Bulgaria contend that the check that has to ascertain whether this measure complies with state aid rules should end this week. The National Association of the Municipalities in Republic of Bulgaria and a number of small companies requested an extension of the application criteria.