site.btaNational Eco Trust Fund Celebrates 20th Anniversary

National Eco Trust Fund Celebrates 20th Anniversary


Sofia, March 9 (BTA) - European Commission Vice President
Kristalina Georgieva said on Monday that Bulgaria's National Eco
Trust Fund (NETF) has the capacity to look ahead and to assist
Bulgaria's advancement. "A lot has been accomplished, with not
so much money but with excellent organization," said Georgieva,
who co-founded NETF in 1995. She was speaking at a conference in
Sofia marking the fund's 20th anniversary.

NETF was established with the active participation of the World
Bank (where Georgieva was working at the time) and the Swiss
government, which became its first donor through a "debt for
environment" swap. Since its establishment, the fund has worked
on four programmes. Its projects have been connected with
climate change, air and water pollution, and biodiversity.

Georgieva, who is responsible for Budget and Human Resources in
the European Commission, said that the "Juncker" plan
prioritizes energy efficiency, reducing harmful emissions, and
supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. Its targeted
budget is 315 billion euro, she said.

The idea is that out of a total European Commission budget of
140-150 billion euro, 20 per cent should be used as "green"
investment and against climate change, Georgieva said. "We have
the responsibility and the obligation to create conditions for
our planet to be a beautiful home for the future generations,"
she said.

Environment and Water Minister Ivelina Vassileva reported on the
results achieved by NETF. These include energy saving measures
implemented in 77 public facilities, including reduction of
carbon dioxide emissions by 443,000 tonnes. NETF assisted the
removal of 420,000 cubic metres of waste in 202 communities, the
gasification of 201 public buildings, the building of two
desulphurization installations in thermal power plants, a pump
station, two waste water treatment plants, more than 10,000
metres of water pipes and 34 km of eco-paths, the restoration of
six wildlife habitats and the repair of environmental damage at
the Pirdop copper works, Vassileva said.