The Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov met today with Her Excellency Natasha Bergel, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia.

The possibilities for expanding and deepening cooperation in the field of flood risk prevention and the construction of infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, which integrates environmental protection, were discussed.

Bulgaria and Slovenia actively participate in EU energy policy making, in which energy security is a top priority. Minister Popov informed his guest that our country is working on overcoming security risks by diversifying energy resources by types, sources, suppliers, routes, by strengthening the energy infrastructure, increasing energy efficiency, by sustainable use of RES, active energy cooperation, and the development of a hydrogen economy.

The two countries are part of the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy and Climate Cooperation (P-TECC) initiative, which aims to help the countries of Central and Eastern Europe improve energy security. Minister Popov informed Ms Bergel about our country’s preparations for the upcoming meeting of the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28), which will be held in Dubai, UAE, in the period November 30th-December 12th, 2023 and invited the Slovenian side, if interested, to participate in the events organized by the Bulgarian pavilion.

Minister Popov informed Ambassador Bergel about the work of the Ministry of Environemnt and Water on the prevention and reduction of the risks of floods. The two agreed that they could organize an exchange of experience on this topic, as both countries suffered losses and damages caused by floods in the past year.