The Minister of Environment and Water Asen Lichev informed by letter the Deputy Prime Minister for European Funds Atanas Pekanov that the first stage of the procedure for environmental assessment of the draft National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria has been completed.

An opinion was expressed on the thoroughness of the requested scope and content of the Environmental Assessment Report. All project proposals were considered, which include 43 reforms and 57 investments. The compatibility of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan with the regimes of the protected areas and with the subject and goals of protection of the areas under “Natura 2000” were assessed. Instructions and recommendations for the next stages of the procedure have been given.

An Environmental Assessment Report is to be prepared, which will be submitted for public consultation before its approval by the MOEW.