Environment and Water Minister Julian Popov partake in the EU Environment Council meeting in Luxembourg, which is held under the Spanish Presidency.

At today’s meeting, the ministers discussed the proposal for a Regulation on CO2 emission standards for heavy duty vehicles. Bulgaria supported the proposed common approach and appreciated the work by the Presidency.

Minister Popov supported the proposals to extend the review clause on the need to analyse and account for infrastructure developments in third countries. He noted that there is a need to take into account developments globally, including in the US and China, in respect to electrification of transport and batteries, pointing out that in the absence of action the EU will fall behind in terms of innovation and technology. Minister Popov called for ambitious action, adding that even at present transport electrification is developing at a significant pace. He mentioned the city of Sofia as an example, where 75% electrification of public transport has been achieved. In this context, the Minister also recalled the proposals Bulgaria made in the past for the development of green corridors within the Union.

The afternoon session started with a discussion on the proposal for a Directive on urban waste water treatment. Bulgaria pointed out that the implementation of the Directive will be a huge challenge for our country in terms of investment and capacity and stressed that national circumstances and different starting positions of Member States should be taken into account as much as possible. Progress was noted, especially in regard to the deadlines for the implementation of certain provisions, and in particular the relevant derogations for Member States that joined the EU after 2006. However, the deadlines remain too ambitious and continue to be too challenging in combination with the new requirements that are very high, which is why Bulgaria abstained.

The Council meeting is to continue with a discussion on the Council conclusions on the preparations for the COP28, which will take place in Dubai at the end of the year, as well as on the updated nationally determined contribution of the Union to the Framework Convention on Climate Change. Updating the nationally determined contribution and submitting it to the Convention Secretariat ahead of COP28 will reaffirm EU leadership and commitment to taking real action to achieve the necessary emission reductions in light of the Paris Agreement targets and recent scientific reports. This way the EU will set an example and provide an incentive for other countries to submit ambitious and transparent nationally determined contributions in the framework of the first Global progress review.