• By the end of the year, the Environment Program 2021-2027 is to announce 5 new procedures
• One will amount to 85 million leva and is intended for systems for separate collection and recycling of biodegradable waste in 64 municipalities

"With their actions so far, state institutions are working to ease the procedures - shortening deadlines for large sites, faster decisions on assessments and coordination of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). There is always something to improve in the legislation, but we have good synchronization with colleagues from other ministries and when a problem arises, we look for a solution together to solve it. You see that the Ministry of Environment and Water does not block construction processes." This was said by the Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov during the national discussion "Prospects, Challenges, and Vision for Development of the Construction Sector", organized by the Chamber of Builders in Bulgaria.

Minister Genov mentioned as the most recent example the work on infrastructure projects such as the completion of the Struma motorway through the Kresna Gorge, which he described as an “ecological saga” with over 20 years of history and recalled the agreement reached with the stakeholders. Along with the Shipka tunnel project, he recalled what the government has done since January 16th regarding important infrastructure projects. “These two examples – Kresna and Shipka – are sufficiently indicative of the new attitude and new policy by the Ministry,” said Minister Genov.

“The construction sector is a key partner in our efforts for sustainable development and environmental protection. Today’s challenges are not small and are mainly related to climate change, resource efficiency, circular economy and air and water quality, which we all face. This underlines the importance of restoring people’s connection with nature in urban areas, including with regard to their health and well-being,” said Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Reneta Koleva, who also particpated at the forum.

She reminded that in order to achieve these goals, there are various ways – ecological and “low-carbon cities”, through the use of sustainably sourced and environmentally friendly materials, to innovative solutions, reuse or recycling of waste, and the construction of urban green corridors for active mobility.

According to her, the Ministry of Environment and Water is directing significant resources through the Environment Program 2021–2027 precisely to address these challenges. Five main procedures are currently active. The first has a resource of 100 million leva for the construction of water and sanitation infrastructure in Sofia Municipality. The second has a budget of 363.5 million leva for the construction and reconstruction of water and sanitation infrastructure for settlements with five to ten thousand inhabitants, with seven water and sanitation operators as beneficiaries with an application deadline of November 2025. The third procedure is worth over 87 million leva and is intended for the reclamation of regional municipal waste landfills, with the application deadlines set for April 2026 and April 2027. The fourth is related to measures for prevention and protection against landslides, collapses, erosion and abrasion, with a resource of nearly 32 million leva and the beneficiary is the Road Infrastructure Agency. The fifth procedure is aimed at improving air quality by building low-emission zones from transport in the municipalities of Plovdiv and Sofia with a resource of 15 million leva and an application deadline of the end of this year.

By the end of 2025, five new procedures are to be announced. Among them is funding of almost 85 million leva for the construction and expansion of systems for separate collection and recycling of biodegradable waste, which will cover 64 municipalities in 13 regional associations. Another procedure has a resource of 145 million leva for the construction of centers for reuse and separate collection of bulky waste. In the "Biodiversity" sector, measures are planned for the protection of endangered species. In the field of climate change, a project with a budget of 74.5 million leva for nature-friendly solutions against the risk of floods, aimed at municipalities and regional administrations, is planned to be announced in October. In addition, a procedure for 3.45 million leva for green measures in urban environments is to be launched.

Koleva also emphasized additional instruments for supporting municipalities. The Enterprise for Management of Environmental Protection Activities (EMEPA) provides around 100 million leva per year for the construction of regional landfills, separate collection systems and biogas plants, although no projects have been submitted under this measure for the third year in a row. The company also finances the reclamation of municipal landfills, covering up to 65% of the cost of technical reclamation, as well as measures for households by providing composters.

As an example of an innovative approach, Deputy Minister Koleva pointed to the Bulgarian-Swiss Cooperation Program with a budget of 23 million leva, aimed at renovating mountain huts in the Rila National Park and transforming them into close to climate-neutral buildings.

In conclusion, she emphasized that the Ministry of Environment and Water will continue to be a reliable partner of the construction sector and all beneficiaries. “It is important to think together, act together and achieve sustainable results, because only this way we can turn challenges into opportunities,” said Reneta Koleva.