The Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova participated today in the meeting of the Environment Council of the European Union. The meeting began with a discussion of the amendments to the Industrial Emissions Directive. Minister Karamfilova noted the potential of the legislative proposal, part of the European Union’s measures to minimize the environmental impact of large industrial and agro-industrial installations. She emphasized that the expansion of the scope of the directive and the introduction of thresholds lower than the current regarding livestock breeding will have serious impact on the sector in Bulgaria.

The ministers discussed the proposal for a regulation establishing a European framework for the certification of carbon sinks. Minister Karamfilova emphasized the importance of the legislative proposal for achieving the EU’s goal for climate neutrality by 2050. She pointed out that when implementing activities under the framework for certification of carbon sinks, it is necessary to take into consideration the specificities for each country related to diversity of farming systems, the characteristics of farm structures, and the predominantly small size of farms.

The ministers also exchanged views on the proposal for a regulation on packaging and packaging waste. Minister Karamfilova expressed support for the introduction of harmonized rules, stressing that for our country the main approaches to preventing packaging waste are the strict observance of the principles of the circular economy, the use of reusable packaging, the wide adoption of alternatives to plastic packaging, and the provision of financial instruments to promote innovation.

The meeting of the EU Environment Council will continue with the discussion of the proposal for a new directive on the treatment of urban waste water. Bulgaria welcomes the proposal as a timely and important step to reduce pollution and energy consumption, to improve water quality by addressing the remaining pollution of urban wastewater, and to improve the sewage system. For our country, the introduction of realistic and feasible goals and deadlines is a guarantee for sustainable changes.