As part of the ongoing series of meetings within the framework of the consultation on the draft updated River Basin Management Plans for the period 2022-2027, the discussion on "Economy and Energy" took place today.

"Today we are looking at the requirements in directives related to these sectors, the impact on water from economic activities, and the measures envisaged in the draft river basin management plans. The aim is to find balanced and feasible solutions corresponding to both the objectives of good water condition and the implementation of economic activities through dialogue with stakeholders," said Reneta Koleva, Deputy Minister of Environment and Water at the opening of the meeting. According to her, once the consultations are completed, the plans should be adopted in October.

Participants in the meeting included representatives of stakeholders from the National Electric Company, the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision, the Executive Agency "Maritime Administration", the State Enterprise "Port Infrastructure", the Institute for Economic Research, the Industrial Capital Association of Bulgaria, Association "Hydroenergy", Association "Union of Environmental Energy Producers - BG", the Bulgarian Water Quality Association, the Association of Soft Drinks Producers in Bulgaria, funding institutions, and NGOs.

The meeting was also attended by the directors of the four basin directorates and experts who presented information on each river basin management plan and the measures envisaged in them. During the discussion, possible measures to find optimal solutions for the final version of the plans were discussed.

The consultation will continue until the end of September. In order to involve more stakeholders for active participation in the consultations, meetings at national and basin level are foreseen, information about which can be found here. The published draft RBMPs can be found here. Information on how to submit comments and proposals is published here.