"The water quality of the Black Sea is of utmost importance for the environment and its rich biodiversity, as well as for people, economic activities, regional development, and tourism. Protection and measures to improve the condition of coastal waters and the marine environment are implemented through two strategic documents - the River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) for the Black Sea Region and the Marine Strategy". This was said yesterday by the Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Reneta Koleva at the opening of the fourth discussion meeting on the Black Sea, which is part of the stakeholder consultations of the draft RBMPs.

The drafts of the two strategic documents, developed with the coordination of the Black Sea Basin Directorate - Varna, were presented at the meeting and are under public consultation until 30 September 2024. The participation of representatives of all stakeholders in the process of discussion and consultation is crucial to optimize the envisaged measures so that they are feasible and lead to the intended objectives, thereby providing opportunities for economic development and sustainable activities while ensuring the quality of the marine environment.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Transport and the Executive Agency "Maritime Administration", the State Enterprise "Port Infrastructure", the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision, Bulgarian Water and Sewerage Holding, scientific institutes, etc.

The MOEW has organised a series of meetings at national level in the framework of the consultations of the draft RBMPs related to main economic sectors.

In order to involve stakeholders in the discussion and to increase their participation at the local level, meetings are also foreseen at basin level and started today. These will continue to be held until 25 June.