• The Ministry of Environment and Water has proposed funding from the European Commission to allow basin directorates to provide correct data to the cadastre so that the state has accurate and complete information about areas with significant and potential flood risk.

"Water is the basis of life and an element of state security," said Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov at the opening of the conference "Water and Security. National Solutions for Critical Challenges with European Support", which is taking place today in Sofia.

The conference discusses the challenges in the water sector, local needs and capacities, as well as possible solutions for the modernization of infrastructure in the context of the mid-term review of cohesion policy and the European Strategy for the Sustainability of Water Resources.

"Water has memory, it has energy, but it also has the power to destroy us with its lack or to push us up against the wall with its element. When we talk about water sustainability, we are talking about the security of the population, about economic stability and about the future of the country," said Minister Genov. He added that climate change is already confronting the country with rare rainfall, devastating droughts, as well as floods, which in some cases also lead to human casualties.

In the context of the European Water Sustainability Strategy, Minister Genov reminded that the EU has set ambitious targets for improving water efficiency, introducing innovative approaches, stimulating water reuse, a circular economy and limiting excessive water abstraction. “The targets seem ambitious, but they are achievable if we act quickly and take measures that take into account regional differences,” highlighted the Minister.

He pointed out that it is necessary to reduce leakages in the main water supply networks, to introduce incentives for safe water reuse in agriculture, industrial processes and energy, as well as to modernize existing facilities.

The Ministry of Environment and Water has already signed contracts with seven water supply companies for the modernization of treatment plants and the rehabilitation of water supply networks. In addition, 360 million leva have been transferred from the Recovery Plan to the Environment Programme to ensure the completion of ten key projects in seven agglomerations. All projects are at an advanced assessment stage and are awaiting funding.

The Minister of Environment and Water recalled that Bulgaria is in an infringement procedure initiated by the European Commission due to insufficient wastewater treatment. At the end of 2024, the EU adopted a new directive, which the country must transpose by July 31, 2027. The new requirements include modern treatment technologies, integrated plans for agglomerations over 10000 equivalent inhabitants, control of stormwater pollution and updated rules for determining water users. “All these requirements are strategically important and the Ministry of Environment and Water is working daily on preparing legislative changes and financial security in order to avoid sanctions,” added Minister Genov.

He noted that all strategic documents that are the basis for future investments have been completed and adopted: Flood Risk Management Plans, River Basin Management Plans, the Marine Strategy and the programs with measures for these. "For the first time, our country has a comprehensive framework for managing surface, groundwater, and marine waters. Without these documents, no major project can begin," added the Minister.

By order of Minister Manol Genov, the four basin directorates prepared new maps of the regions with significant and potential flood risk, based on modern geographic information systems. The analysis showed significant gaps - the cadastre is missing many water bodies. The Ministry of Environment and Water has already proposed funding from the European Commission, which would allow the basin directorates to provide correct data to the cadastre and to fill in all "blue spots" so that the state has accurate and complete information.

The event was also attended by the Chairman of the Committee on Regional Policy, Public Works and Local Self-Government in the National Assembly Nikolay Nankov, the independent MEP Taner Kabilov, the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov, and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Ivan Kapitanov.