site.btaCouncil of Ministers Has until End-2024 to Adopt 2022-2027 Marine Strategy

As a result of the action taken, the Marine Strategy for the 2022-2027 Period is to be finished and its adoption by the Council of Ministers is to be completed by the end of 2024, which will honour Bulgaria's commitment under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Water Management Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Water said on Thursday.

BTA approached the Ministry about a reasoned opinion sent by the European Commission to Bulgaria for failure to comply with reporting obligations under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The country was given two months to respond and take the necessary measures to complete the review and update its programme of measures which need to be taken to achieve or maintain good environmental status in the Community’s seas and oceans while ensuring that their resources are managed sustainably.

The updating of the programme of measures was delayed because of a delay in the updating of the initial assessment of the current environmental status of the marine environment owing to unimplemented public procurement due to lack of interest in developing the procurement, the Ministry explained. The assessment was completed in 2022, the Ministry said, adding that an update of the strategy was published for consultation in October 2023. The observations received were incorporated, and the programme of measures was finalized and, together with the updated draft Marine Strategy, was published for public consultation in early February 2024. The deadline for consultation on the Marine Strategy is September 30, so as to ensure a coordination with the consultation on the programme of measures in the Black Sea River Basin Management Plan for the 2022-2027 period with regard to coastal waters. The completion of the Marine Strategy also requires an environmental assessment in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act, which is being performed under a contract with an external contractor that was concluded in late 2023, the Environment and Water Ministry specified further.