Bulgaria Expresses Concern over EU’s ‘Unrealistic’ Emission Reduction Commitments

Environment Minister Ivelina Vasileva expressed Bulgaria’s concerns over the overly ambitious and unrealistic emission reduction commitments of the EU after 2030 at a meeting of the Environment Council in Luxembourg.

Bulgaria’s fears were echoed by other EU Member States during the debates on air quality and the proposed directive for the reduction of national emissions of certain pollutants, according to a media statement of the Environment Ministry.

Although the initiative was welcomed by the majority of delegations, a number of contentious issues were yet to be resolved, according to Bulgaria’s Environment Ministry.

Bulgaria insisted on the need to take into account the competitiveness of the EU Member States bordering on non-EU countries and cross-border pollution.

Bulgaria’s Environment Minister made clear that Bulgaria would demand realistic ceilings reflecting the economic development of the different EU Member States in the ongoing talks.

During the Environment Council meeting, Vasileva managed to hold informal talks with Karmenu Vella, the EU Commissioner for the Environment, and Miguel Arias Ca?ete, the EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy.