Among our main priorities is to undertake urgent measures in relation to the infringement procedures against Bulgaria in the environment field. At the moment there are 16 such procedures at different stages.

This was stated by the Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova, who together with deputy ministers Reneta Koleva and Petar Dimitrov presented the priorities for the MOEW team.

The minister pointed out that there are two infringement procedures in the EU court - for failure to declare protected areas and determine specific protection measures, as well as for exceeding norm values ​​of fine dust particles.

Minister Karamfilova emphasized that the most complicated situation is in respect to the closure of municipal landfills for non-hazardous waste that had started in 2012.

“For 8 landfills – i.e. in the municipalities of Byala, Pernik, Velingrad, Dupnitsa, Pirdop, Boboshevo, Kocherinovo and Kardzhali, there is still a lot of work to be done. The deadline is September 30, there are 45 days left, the mission is almost impossible, but I think that with common efforts we can move things forward,” the minister explained.

She added that due to the long-term delay, there will certainly be penalty payments, but the MOEW team will work to prove that measures are being taken, which will lead to a reduction in the value of the payments.

The Minister of Environment and Water recalled that in 2021 the European Commission referred to the Court the case against Bulgaria for non-compliance with the norms for fine dust particles, while the infringement procedure started back in 2010.

“On September 21 this year, Bulgaria must appear at the so-called oral examination to prove that the measures taken bring results”, she added.

Minister Karamfilova pointed out that within the infringement procedure for exceeding sulfur dioxide levels, there are no penalty payments for Bulgaria at this stage, but it is possible to have such imposed:

 “We are the only EU country that cannot keep the norms. The procedure started back in 2009, and back then the EC announced the decision that our country does not comply with the norms. The only option for us is to stop the violations and maintain a lasting positive trend. We have to report to the EC by September 15,” she said. Enhanced preventive control and coordination between MOEW structures has been commissioned.

Meetings have been arranged with the operators of the large combustion plants, whereby they are expected to present their action plans. “For us, the law is clear. It is necessary to fulfill the obligations under the environmental legislation, as well as the ones included in the conditions of complex permits,” said Minister Karamfilova.

In respect to the Struma highway, Minister Karamfilova stated that determining zone-specific environmental protection goals for the two protected areas from an ecological point of view is of fundamental importance. Those will be highly decisive for the development and outcome of the project. Currently the developed goals for the two zones have been uploaded to the MOEW website for public discussion, and dozens of opinions have been received. The minister added that the goals should be approved as soon as possible.

“Our task within this cabinet is to be able to draw a clear and concrete, sustainable action plan. Such are also the EC’s expectations in respect to taking concrete steps and presenting a timetable,” she added.

The MOEW is a beneficiary of 3 investment projects within the framework of the National Resilience and Recovery Plan. Two are related to the activities of the National Nature Protection Service, the third is on digitalization, the complex management and efficient use of water. The value of the projects exceeds 200 million BGN. There are several key challenges, one of which is the need for a legislative reform to build the management structures of the National Ecological Network, and this should be done by amending the Biodiversity Act. The MOEW ambition at the moment is to prepare an impact assessment and financial justification for the bill to amend the Biodiversity Act and to carry out the coordination procedures. The other challenges are related to purely operational activities, project management teams need to be created, but for the legislative reform the deadline is the third quarter of 2022.

“We will work to improve communication among institutions, including local government and with colleagues from MOEW regional structures, who are on the ground. In the Ministry there are knowledgeable, capable people who have devoted their lives and work to this mission. The time has come to show this expertise with joint efforts so as to restore trust in the ministry,” added the minister.

Minister Karamfilova explained that the focus will be on preventive activities. “Work must be transparent and in accord with the legal framework,” she said.