In an official letter, the European Commission via the Permanent Representation of Bulgaria in Brussels informed the Ministry of Environment and Water that the National Framework for Natura 2000 Priority Actions for the programming period 2021-2027 of Bulgaria has been approved and encourages the Bulgarian authorities to ensure that all identified funding programs, in particular the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy, the Cohesion Fund, the Regional Fund, and the Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Program adequately reflect the needs and priorities identified in the Framework for Natura 2000. In its letter, the European Commission confirms that the Natura 2000 strategy framework is complete and attains the necessary quality to meet the preconditions of the European Regional Development Fund.

The Framework for 2021-2027 is a tool for strategic multi-annual planning in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the necessary measures for the management of the Natura 2000 network in Bulgaria and the related environmental infrastructure. 74 administrative and conservation measures for protection and/or restoration of favorable conservation status of natural habitats and species of interest to Bulgaria and the European Union are included, while taking into account economic, social and cultural requirements, as well as regional and local characteristics. Funding for the measures is provided by the European Regional Development Fund/Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, the Reconstruction and Sustainability Mechanism, and the national budget.

The Natura 2000 Framework aims to reverse the process of biodiversity loss by prioritizing the necessary measures to protect target species and natural habitats under the Birds Directive and the Natura 2000 Habitats Directive. This contributes directly to the implementation of EU policy and legislation not only in the area of ​​the two environmental directives, but also in relation to the Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the European Green Pact, the Paris Agreement, and the EU Forestry Strategy for the Conservation and Adaptation of forests to climate change.

The Framework for 2021-2027 was developed with the financial support of the Operational Program Environment 2014-2020. The measures were identified by a team of scientists from the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, lawyers, economists, Geographic Information System experts, and stakeholder experts.

The National Framework for Natura 2000 Priority Actions for the period 2021-2027 of Bulgaria is available HERE: http://natura2000.moew.government.bg/Home/Documents