• The public consultation will be conducted over six months – until August 21

The process of updating the River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) for the period 2028-2033 has begun. The Ministry of Environment and Water and the basin directorates published for public consultation a schedule and work program for the development of the RBMPs and the planned public consultations. The documents are available on the websites of the respective basin directorates and the ministry.

In accordance with the Water Act, the consultations will span over six months – until August 21, 2025, whereby written opinions and proposals on the published documents can be submitted until the end date.

The work program of the next RBMPs is very ambitious, consistent with the goal of overcoming the delay in completing the RBMPs 2022-2027. It is planned to update the next RBMPs in a shortened timeframe, consistent with those set out in the Water Act and the Water Framework Directive.

The River Basin Management Plan is a strategic document. The measures that will be planned in the RBMP for the period 2028-2033 will determine the basic framework for the use and protection of water during this period.

The participation of representatives of all economic sectors and the public in the discussion is of key importance for shaping correct and balanced decisions aimed at achieving the goals of good water status while ensuring sustainable socio-economic development.

The Schedule and the Work Program for the update of the RBMP 2028-2033 can be found here

Information on how to provide opinions can be found here

The Basin Directorates (BDs) are administration units under the Minister of Environment and Water, which are responsible for water management at the basin level. The principle of basin management is based on the natural location of the watersheds between the catchment areas of one or several main rivers on the territory of the country. Four basin management regions have been defined in Bulgaria: the Danube region with its center in Pleven, the Black Sea region with its center in Varna, the East Aegean region with its center in Plovdiv and the West Aegean region with its center in Blagoevgrad. The main function of the four BDs is to develop, update and implement River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) and Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) for the respective region.