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This work describes an analysis of the maturity of project management in the projects from "Operational Programme Environment 2007-2013" in Bulgaria (considered unsuccessful, because of the low level of acquisition of funds - 50%) and the maturity of the programme management in the whole programme. The hypotheses are: 1) Professional project management increases the success rate of the projects and leads to more successful projects. 2) Professional programme management increases the success rate of the whole programme. The literature analysis proposes a new approach to the management of the programme - management by projects. The terms project management, programme management, maturity model and public administration are defined. The management by projects approach is mapped to the specifics of project management in Bulgaria. The empirical part presents the results from the analysis of the maturity model, based on document analysis and interviews with project members of the selected projects. The result of the analysis indicates the low level of maturity of the project and programme organizations. In the end, recommendations for the future programming period are proposed.

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Mladenov, Valentin
Valentin Mladenov is a PMI-certified Project Manager (PMP) with an MBA degree (Vienna University of Business and Economics) and a solid background in Information Technologies. He is experienced in creating and building teams, managing projects from initiating to closing phase and stakeholder management.

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