The Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) and the four basin directorates for water management discussed the draft Flood Risk Management Plans for the period 2022-2027 (FRMPs) at a national meeting with key stakeholders. This is the first information event since the publication of the documents on 15 December 2022 for public consultation.

The update of the FRMPs for the four river basin districts is carried out in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2007/60/EU on the assessment and management of flood risks and is funded by the Operational Program Environment 2014-2020, under the direct grant procedure under Priority Axis 4 “Flood and Landslide Risk Management”. The amount of the financial assistance is 13 190 867,55 BGN of which 85% from the EU Cohesion Fund and 15% national co-financing.

Beneficiary of the project is the Directorate of Water Management at the Ministry of Environment in partnership with the four basin directorates.

The main and substantial part of the activities for the update of the FRMPs for the 4 river basin districts is implemented by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development within the framework of a Support Services Agreement for the development of the River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) and the FRMPs for Bulgaria.

The update of the planning documents, in addition to revising and updating the preliminary flood risk assessment, the hazard and flood risk maps, and the FRMPs, also includes improving the methodological basis used in the first planning cycle, as well as considering climate change for flood risk.

The update of the FRMPs aims to address all the inaccuracies and incomplete aspects identified in the FRMPs 2016-2021 and also to adequately address the comments and recommendations in the European Commission’s assessment on the implementation of the Floods Directive, as well as in the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report. 

The review, borrowing and application of good European practices and international experience are the basis for the update of the FRMPs for the 4 river basin districts.

At the meeting were also presented the approach for assessment and prioritization of the measures in the FRMPs, the types of measures, and the way to implement and monitor the planning documents. The event attracted great public interest, specific measures proposed by NGOs and governmental institutions were discussed.