“Every citizen wonders about the quality of the air they breathe. The truth is that we have achieved a dramatic improvement in recent years, but serious challenges still lie ahead. I believe that through tools like this project, monitoring capabilities, data reliability, and the accurate assessment of ambient air quality will be even better.”

This is how Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova addressed local government representatives and experts at the opening of a forum on improving air quality monitoring at the national level in Burgas. The event is part of the project "Improving Air Quality Monitoring at the National Level" under the Environment Program 2021–2027, implemented by the Executive Environment Agency (EEA). The forum was attended by Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov and EEA Executive Director Rosalina Indzhieva.

Minister Karamfilova described the project as a key step in the phased expansion of the air monitoring system, a concept established at the beginning of the decade that is now yielding results. “This project is compelling proof that the idea, even when we first conceived it with the team back in 2021–2022 as a strategic vision for upgrading the entire ambient air quality system, was not only correct but also visionary,” she emphasized.

As part of the project, six mobile automatic stations designed to measure specific air pollutants have been delivered. “The mobile stations are one of the key tools for monitoring activities. They will allow us to respond to reports of sudden pollution spikes, fires, and other incidents, as well as to inform the public in real time about air quality,” said Minister Karamfilova. Speaking to reporters, she clarified that the equipment is state-of-the-art and has been calibrated in accordance with the reference methods established by the European Commission.

One of the six stations remains in continuous operation at the regional laboratory in Burgas. It has been specially equipped with instruments for measuring so-called specific pollutants - substances characteristic of industrial sources of pollution. This step was prompted by numerous reports by citizens regarding foul odors in the area. The Minister clarified that there is no equipment capable of directly measuring odors, but the new equipment will allow for the monitoring of a wide range of organic compounds.

Minister Karamfilova also announced the next phase of the system’s modernization - a project under the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Program that will ensure the upgrading and replacement of automatic monitoring stations throughout the country, the development of network and information security, as well as the creation of a mobile app for assessing the air pollution risk, which will provide easy access to real-time data.

“Our ambition is for every citizen to have real-time access to information on air quality in a clear and understandable way. This is further proof that Bulgaria will have a modern national monitoring system that meets all current European requirements,” said the Minister.

The forum in the coastal city marks Rositsa Karamfilova’s first public appearance in her capacity as Minister of Environment and Water. Among the priorities she outlined are strengthening oversight activities and enhancing expert capacity within the structures of the Ministry of Environment and Water. “I will not allow individuals with political, financial, or personal dependencies to work in the system. The standard for quality and expertise will be paramount,” she emphasized.

“From now on, things will be different. If we think it will be easy, we are being naive. If we think it will be quick, we are surely being foolish. The only way to achieve sustainable results is through sustainable actions, consistency, and high expertise,” added Rositsa Karamfilova.