Today Deputy Prime Minister for Climate Policy and Minister of Environment and Water Borislav Sandov participated in the first meeting this year of the European Union Environment Council in Brussels.

One of the main topics under discussion were the European Commission’s legislative proposals in the field of climate as part of the “Fit for 55” package. The Minister reiterated Bulgaria’s firm commitment to work towards establishment of the necessary conditions to meet the priorities and objectives of the European Green Deal and the European Climate Law.

“In the context of the war in Ukraine, the Green Deal is not a problem, but a solution. The risks associated with energy security clearly show the need to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, the need for faster and broader penetration of renewable energy, for higher resource and energy efficiency. It is indisputable that decarbonisation is not a purely environmental issue, but is related to peace in Europe,” said Deputy Prime Minister Sandov.

The meeting continued with a discussion of the draft regulation on batteries and waste batteries. Ministers reached a common position on the dossier, hence negotiations with the European Parliament can begin. There is a common understanding that the adoption of the regulation will improve the internal market, promote the circular economy, and reduce environmental and social impact at all stages of the battery life cycle.

During the morning session, Borislav Sandov had a bilateral meeting with the Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate of Environment Ms. Florica Fink-Hooijer. The two discussed Bulgaria’s progress in fulfilling environmental commitments with a view to closing the infringement procedures against it. Minister Sandov pointed out that the goal of the MOEW team is to reduce by at least half this year active infringement proceedings against Bulgaria in the environmental sector. Ms. Fink-Hooijer noted that progress was visible and that the undertaken changes would also lead to improvements in living conditions for citizens.

The meeting also discussed the possibility of developing renewable energy sources without conflicting with biological diversity conservation. Ms. Fink-Hooijer pointed out that the European Commission has recently completed an analysis of current European legislation. According to her, this provides the opportunity to find a balance between the development of renewable energy and nature conservation. Minister Sandov pointed out that one of the possibilities for RES is to place them on sites that are already industrialized but not used - such as old mines, abandoned industrial sites, or even agricultural land that is in poor agri-environmental condition. In this way, on the one hand, the potential for clean energy production will be developed, and on the other - it will be possible to improve the condition of these areas.

In the afternoon Council session, the ministers discussed the new regulation on deforestation. A discussion on the greening of the European Semester was also planned.