site.btaAgreement on Environment and Climate Change Programme under EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 Signed with Bulgaria

Sofia, April 10 (BTA) - An agreement on the Environment and Climate Change Programme under the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 was signed with Bulgaria during an informal meeting of the EU Environment Council in Sofia Tuesday.

Bulgarian Environment and Water Minister Neno Dimov said: "The signing of the agreement is not just a legal act. It is an expression of the mutual confidence between the donor countries and the Ministry of Environment and Water, our good cooperation, the high value added, the results achieved during earlier programming periods. It shows our desire to keep working together in order to achieve high environmental standards and protect the environment."

Between 2007 and 2009, nine environmental projects totalling 8 million leva were carried out under the EEA Financial Mechanism. Pursuant to a memorandum of understanding for 2009-2014 between Bulgaria, on the one hand, and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, on the other hand, the donors provided 36 million leva in funding for 38 projects under two programmes: one for the integrated management of sea and inland water bodies, and the other for biodiversity and ecosystems, Dimov recalled.

The new Environment and Climate Change Programme will use a budget of 30.5 million leva to implement measures concerning major waste management and climate change adaptation policies, the minister said.

Atle Hamar, State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, who took part in the signing of the agreement, said the grant is a way for Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to contribute to the reduction of socioeconomic inequalities in Europe and reinforce relations with Bulgaria. According to him, the programme will help strengthen Bulgaria's capacity in the field of climate action, biodiversity, and water body management. Climate, environment, and low-carbon emissions are among the priorities of the next programming period, Hamar said, adding that about 30 per cent of the grant aid is targeted at these areas.