site.btaNAMRB Chair Says Water Management, Flood Prevention Must Be National Priority

Water management and flood prevention must be a national priority, said Veliko Tarnovo Mayor and National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) Chair Daniel Panov at the Annual Meeting of Local Authorities in Albena resort (on the Black Sea coast) on Sunday. The event was officially opened by the country’s Prime Minister, Rosen Zhelyazkov.

The opening was attended by Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, Environment and Water Minister Manol Genov, Education Minister Krasimir Valchev, European Commission Representation in Bulgaria Head Yordanka Chobanova, and Commission on Protection of Competition Chair Rosen Karadimov. Among the official guests was also Bulgarian News Agency Director General Kiril Valchev, with the agency acting as a media partner for the annual meeting.

In his address, Panov emphasized that municipalities will insist the first national budget in euro, scheduled for 2026, be fair to local authorities, and that payments for municipal projects be timely and predictable. He also commented on upcoming reforms regarding the calculation and collection of waste disposal fees, which must be gradual and fair.

"After years of political turbulence, stable governance is essential for municipalities to plan and implement their projects," Panov said. He noted that there is now stability and predictability, without which no reform can take place.

Regarding the household waste fee reform, Panov warned that there is a risk of public discontent and non-payment by citizens, which could hinder the work of municipalities. Therefore, he stressed the need for a legislatively mandated transition period and for the “polluter pays” principle to be introduced gradually, based on each municipality’s readiness. He also pointed out the serious issue of outdated property tax assessments, which have not been updated in more than 26 years, while real estate prices have increased at least tenfold in that time. “It is time for a fair and up-to-date tax valuation that reflects reality, not the past,” said the NAMRB Chair.

On the issue of extreme flooding, Panov stated that the pain felt by people demonstrates that prevention is not an expense but a duty. He called for timely actions, new drilling projects, reservoirs, and clear coordination among institutions, stressing that this is not only a matter of national security but also of humanity.

“Uncertainty brings new opportunities, and it is municipalities that keep society stable in turbulent times,” Panov added. He reminded that local authorities are closest to the people, and that only when municipalities succeed, Bulgaria succeeds as well.