Minister Karamfilova and MOEW experts met with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to discuss the development of plans for flood risk management and river basins

27 Jan, 2023 | 15:47

 

The Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova, together with a team from the Ministry, met with representatives of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), who are on a mission to Bulgaria in relation to the implementation of an Agreement to assist the MOEW in the development of Management Plans for River Basins (MPRB) and Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMP).

At the meeting, the activities for the development and finalization of the MPRB and the FRMP and their schedule were discussed.

The MPRB and FRMP for the period 2022-2027, which are the envisaged result from this agreement, are of key importance both for ensuring sustainability in water management and for fulfilling Bulgaria’s obligation to implement the Water Framework Directive and the Directive for flood risk assessment and management.

The FRMP was published on December 15th, 2022 for public discussion: https://www.moew.government.bg/bg/vodi/planove-za-upravlenie/planove-za-upravlenie-na-riska-ot-navodneniya-purn /planove-za-upravlenie-na-riska-ot-navodneniya-2022-2027/

 

Due to the delay in reporting the maps with the threat and risk of floods, as required by the Directive on the assessment and management of the risk of floods, the European Commission has started an infringement procedure against Bulgaria. The final versions of the maps with the 127 identified areas of significant potential flood risk were adopted in September 2022 upon public consultations and work is underway on reporting these, which should be completed shortly. At the meeting, it was agreed that the World Bank team would provide the necessary assistance and additional information in a timely manner to speed up the process.

Regarding the development of the MPRB, as a result of the efforts undertaken by both parties, progress has been made on a number of technical deliverables, but a delay of approximately 2 months has accrued to date from the agreed schedule.

Minister Rositsa Karamfilova expressed concern about the delay and insisted that measures be taken and, if necessary, additional resources be utilized to compensate for the delay.

The World Bank experts committed to present a program of actions and specific deadlines for compensating the delay as early as Monday, January 30.

The Ministry of the Environment and Water will publish regular information on the progress with the work on the preparation of the MPRB and FRMP.