• A meeting in Sozopol united the state and Black Sea municipalities on Black Sea Day

On Black Sea Day – October 31, the Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov participated in the meeting “Blue Future for the Black Sea”, which was held in Sozopol and was jointly organized by the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Municipality of Sozopol.

The event was dedicated to the topics of sustainable development, blue economy, and innovations in the protection of the marine environment.

“Every action we take matters. When we choose not to pollute and support sustainable initiatives, we care for nature and the future. The cleaner the Black Sea is, the bluer it will be,” emphasized Minister Manol Genov in his opening speech.

The Minister presented data from the latest report by the European Environment Agency, according to which Bulgaria is in second place in Europe for 2024 in terms of the share of bathing waters of excellent quality – 97-98 %. "This is a result of the modernization of the treatment plants, the construction of deep-sea outlets, the implementation of systems for constant water monitoring, and the equipment provided to the Black Sea municipalities. A number of projects are being implemented to maintain and upgrade the scientific base through which we monitor biodiversity and water quality," noted Minister Genov.

He emphasized that the Environment Program funds key measures throughout the country:

• BGN 615 million – to promote resource efficiency and the circular economy;
• BGN 1.4 billion – to build infrastructure for the collection, disposal, and treatment of wastewater and improve the quality of drinking water;
• BGN 780 million – for clean air and development of green infrastructure in urban environments;
• BGN 450 million – for climate change adaptation, disaster prevention, and landslide reinforcement.

According to him, targeted efforts to protect the sea and its coast are already yielding tangible results. The number of beaches with the Blue Flag certificate has doubled compared to 2011, and in 2024 they will already be 22. “This number is below the real potential of our coast. We need to continue working together – the state, municipalities, and the business – for integrated coastal management and development of the blue economy,” hihglighted the Minister.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Pavlin Petrov emphasized that the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast is establishing itself as a safe, modern and sustainable tourist destination. “Bulgaria has clean water and beautiful beaches – a wealth that provides livelihoods and jobs for local communities,” he pointed out.

“The fruits of the treatment plants built in recent years are being harvested today – clean water and beautiful beaches,” said Burgas Regional Governor Vladimir Krumov. According to him, this is the result of the consistent efforts by the regular government and the well-functioning cooperation between the state and local authorities.

The Mayor of Sozopol Tihomir Yanakiev presented two new projects of the municipality under the Cross-Border Cooperation Program – for the construction of a park on a 100-acre site and for the creation of a training center, where good practices in waste management and separate collection will be studied and implemented.

The mayors of municipalities from the Southern Black Sea coast also presented their visions and ideas for the sustainable development of their regions in the context of the protection of the Black Sea - Marin Kirov - Mayor of Tsarevo Municipality, Ivan Gaikov - Mayor of Primorsko Municipality, and Ivan Aleksiev - Mayor of Pomorie Municipality.

After the meeting, the guests, together with experts from the Black Sea Region Basin Directorate - Varna, Regional Laboratory - Varna at the Executive Agency for the Environment, and representatives of the Regional Inspectorates for Environment and Water - Burgas and Varna, boarded a vessel to oversee sea water sampling in the Sozopol water area.

The monitoring confirmed the excellent quality of the sea waters off the Bulgarian coast and once again proved that our sea is clean and vibrant.