site.bta Reduction of Harmful Emissions, Improving Air Quality Are among Most Important Priorities - Minister

Reduction of Harmful Emissions, Improving Air Quality Are among Most Important Priorities - Minister

Sofia, June 11 (BTA) - One of the most important priorities of
the Ministry of Environment and Water, given the advanced stage
of the infringement procedure of the European Commission, is
reduction of the emissions of harmful substances and improving
the quality of the ambient air on the territory of the whole
country, Minister of Environment and Water Ivelina Vassileva
said. She was addressing a national environmental conference
titled "Environment: Condition and Tendencies" here on Thursday.

The main problem at national level is pollution with fine
particulate matter, while the instrument for providing the
necessary quality of the ambient air within given territory is
provided by the implementation of the municipal programmes, the
Minister said. It is envisaged to support the municipalities in
the drafting, updating and implementation of the programmes. For
 this purpose, the new Operational Programme Environment
(2014-2020) will provide financing of some 120 million leva for
specific measures to reduce emissions from vehicles and
household heating, Vassileva pointed out.

The Minister said that a procedure of adoption of legislative
changes has begun. A Bill Amending and Supplementing the Clean
Ambient Air Act has been drafted and it is expected to
strengthen the control on the fulfillment of the obligations for
 the drafting of the municipal programmes and the measures set
out in them.

According to the national report based on 2013 data, 83.55 per
cent of the Bulgarian population are affected by the pollution
of the air with fine particulate matter. The main pollution
source is the burning of solid and liquid fuel, which has a
share of 59 per cent in the overall pollution.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev, "we need
ecological thinking in the broader sense of the word and not
only in terms of environment protection". Donchev voiced concern
 that environmental issues are associated only with expenditures
 and in two thirds of the cases focus is placed on the public
infrastructure. It is important, yes, but ecologicially-oriented
 thinking should go before the infrastructure, he observed.

There is still not a balance between the development of economy,
 investments and environment protection. "If we have a mature
political and public position about the balance, we will
guarantee both progress and environment protection faster and
with higher confidence," Donchev added.

Reduction of Harmful Emissions, Improving
Air Quality Are among Most Important
Priorities - Minister


Sofia, June 11 (BTA) - One of the most important priorities of
the Ministry of Environment and Water, given the advanced stage
of the infringement procedure of the European Commission, is
reduction of the emissions of harmful substances and improving
the quality of the ambient air on the territory of the whole
country, Minister of Environment and Water Ivelina Vassileva
said. She was addressing a national environmental conference
titled "Environment: Condition and Tendencies" here on Thursday.

The main problem at national level is pollution with fine
particulate matter, while the instrument for providing the
necessary quality of the ambient air within given territory is
provided by the implementation of the municipal programmes, the
Minister said. It is envisaged to support the municipalities in
the drafting, updating and implementation of the programmes. For
 this purpose, the new Operational Programme Environment
(2014-2020) will provide financing of some 120 million leva for
specific measures to reduce emissions from vehicles and
household heating, Vassileva pointed out.

The Minister said that a procedure of adoption of legislative
changes has begun. A Bill Amending and Supplementing the Clean
Ambient Air Act has been drafted and it is expected to
strengthen the control on the fulfillment of the obligations for
 the drafting of the municipal programmes and the measures set
out in them.

According to the national report based on 2013 data, 83.55 per
cent of the Bulgarian population are affected by the pollution
of the air with fine particulate matter. The main pollution
source is the burning of solid and liquid fuel, which has a
share of 59 per cent in the overall pollution.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev, "we need
ecological thinking in the broader sense of the word and not
only in terms of environment protection". Donchev voiced concern
 that environmental issues are associated only with expenditures
 and in two thirds of the cases focus is placed on the public
infrastructure. It is important, yes, but ecologicially-oriented
 thinking should go before the infrastructure, he observed.

There is still not a balance between the development of economy,
 investments and environment protection. "If we have a mature
political and public position about the balance, we will
guarantee both progress and environment protection faster and
with higher confidence," Donchev added.