site.btaDeputy Economy Minister Says Transition to Low-Carbon Industries Should Happen Gradually

Deputy Economy and Industry Minister Nikolay Pavlov Thursday said the transition to low-carbon industries should happen gradually, taking into account technological capacity and socio-economic consequences. He addressed a forum on the need for a National Just Transition Plan organized by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Bulgaria. 

The aim of the event was to discuss the challenges facing Bulgaria in connection with the Green Deal, the discussion at European level on its revision and the impact on different sectors of the economy and end customers.

The Ministries of Economy and Industry and of Finance have prepared a joint socio-economic analysis of the impact of the implementation of the European Green Deal, which identifies areas and economic sectors that will be most affected, Pavlov said. In his words, the analysis shows that technological changes and innovative solutions require targeted investments, whose effect will become apparent over a period of time. He also added that the setting of new requirements sometimes causes uncertainty for businesses and raises fears of unforeseen risks.

The forum was attended by the CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov and Vice President Ognyan Atanasov, Bulgarian Industrial Association President Dobri Mitev, FES Bulgaria Director Jacques Paparo, Deputy Energy Minister Krasimir Nenov, Deputy Transport Minister Biser Minchev and Deputy Agriculture Minister Tanya Georgieva, among others.