A total of 21 payments totaling 3 901 597.75 euros were made under the 2021–2027 Environment Program last week. The funds are directed toward projects for water and waste management, biodiversity conservation, flood risk prevention, air quality improvement, and technical assistance for the management and implementation of the program.

The largest portion of the disbursed funds – 1 440 114.35 euros - was allocated to Priority 2 “Waste,” where seven payments were made.

Under the procedure for the reclamation of regional landfills and cells within regional landfills for municipal waste, two interim payments were made to the Municipality of Haskovo and the Municipality of Targovishte, totaling 365 583.74 euros.

Under the procedures for the construction, expansion, and upgrading of municipal and regional systems for the separate collection and recycling of biodegradable waste, a total of five payments were made. These include an advance payment to the Municipality of Silistra in the amount of 612,431.38 euros, an interim payment to the Municipality of Omurtag in the amount of 235,367.40 euros, as well as three interim payments to the Municipality of Tervel, the Municipality of Dobrich, and the Municipality of Cherven Bryag, totaling 226,731.83 euros.

Under Priority 1 “Water,” one advance payment of 148 161.18 euros was made under the procedure to support the update of the River Basin Management Plan for the Black Sea Region for the period 2028–2033.

The beneficiary of the project is the “Black Sea Region” River Basin Directorate in Varna. The funds will support activities related to data collection and analysis, studies and assessments, updating methodologies, and planning measures to achieve and maintain good water status.

Under Priority 3, “Biodiversity,” five payments totaling 292 435.70 euros have been made.

Two interim payments totaling 109 347.42 euros were made under the procedure for implementing Measures 46, 47, 48, 49, and 74 (Part I) of the National Framework for Priority Actions for NATURA 2000, with the Southeast State Enterprise and the Southwest State Enterprise as beneficiaries.

Under the procedure for implementing Measure 70 of the National Framework for Priority Actions for NATURA 2000, an interim payment of 32 489.33 euros was made to the Directorate of the “Sinite Kamani” Nature Park in Sliven.

Under the procedure for implementing Measure 74 of the National Framework for Priority Actions for NATURA 2000, an advance payment of 20 746.17 euros was made to the Pirin National Park Directorate.

An additional 129 852.78 euros was disbursed under the procedure for monitoring the brown bear population, with the Executive Agency for the Environment as the beneficiary.

Under Priority 4, “Risk and Climate Change,” two advance payments totaling 302 297.21 euros were made.

The funds were provided to the Municipality of Rudozem and the Municipality of Devin under the procedure “Nature-Based Measures for Flood Risk Prevention and Management.”

This funding supports measures to reduce flood risk and enhance the resilience of communities and infrastructure to extreme hydrological events and climate impacts.

Under Priority 5 “Air,” two interim payments totaling 734 462.86 euros were made.

The funds were allocated to the Municipality of Burgas and the Municipality of Smolyan under the “For Cleaner Air!” procedure.

The funding is part of efforts to improve air quality and reduce pollution in populated areas.

Under Priority 6, “Technical Assistance,” four interim payments totaling 984 126.45 euros were made.

The funds come from budget lines for technical assistance for the management and implementation of the “Environment” Program 2021–2027. They support activities related to the effective management, monitoring, implementation, and promotion of the program.

With the 21 payments made, totaling nearly 3.9 million euros, the “Environment” Program 2021-2027 continues to support concrete actions to protect nature and resources and to enhance the sustainability of territories.

The funding covers key areas of European and national environmental policy - water and waste management, biodiversity conservation, natural risk prevention, and air quality improvement – as well as the necessary support for the effective management and implementation of the program.