“The role of the National Trust Eco Fund (NTEF) over the years has been very important because it is a partner of the state in the development of environmental policies - for the development of energy management and the implementation of climate change adaptation measures at the municipal level, as well as the use of instruments for mobilizing private funds for public projects,” said the Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov today during the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the National Trust Eco Fund (NTEF). He added that the NTEF has financed over 500 projects by municipalities, schools, universities, companies, scientific institutes, and civil society organizations for a total of about 121 million leva.

The financing provided is through various mechanisms, including revenues from greenhouse gas emissions trading, as well as from programs of the European Economic Area and other donors. Many of the supported projects are marked by an innovative approach or are pilot projects, including projects for the protection of biodiversity, water management, reduction of air pollution, improvement of education in the field of environment and climate, as well as for improving the energy efficiency of schools, kindergartens, community centers and hospitals.

Minister Manol Genov expressed confidence that the NTEF will continue to play a constructive role in the implementation of our country's environmental and climate commitments within the framework of the common European goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

"We celebrate the anniversary of the Ecofund on Botev’s Day. What we have inherited from the past is to always look forward. The creation of the Eco Fund took place as part of the institutional transformation of Bulgaria. It was founded in 1995 and, together with Bulgaria, went through a transition from the almost absent institutions of the market economy to a well-functioning market economy today," said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

The official celebration of the NTEF anniversary was hosted by prof. Dimitar Nenkov, Chairman of the Board of Directors, as well as the team of the Ecofund. The event guests included the Ambassadors of Germany Irene Planck and Switzerland Raimund Führer, the World Bank Resident Representative for Bulgaria Lesse Melgard, former Ministers of the Environment Evdokia Maneva, Nona Karadjova, and Ivelina Vasileva, mayors and experts.

The National Trust Ecofund (NTEF) was established in 1995 with the transformation of over 20% of Bulgaria’s debt to Switzerland into environmental protection projects. This created an institution that is independent of the government, but in service of national interests and European goals in the field of the environment and climate.

NTEF played an important role in the period of our country’s preparation for EU membership, when environmental funding and the administrative capacity for the implementation of environmental projects were still insufficient. Thanks to the Ecofund, projects of exceptional importance have been implemented during this period, such as the elimination of pollution from the copper mining plant in Pirdop, the reclamation of old landfills, the treatment of hazardous waste, etc.