site.btaConstruction Sector Experts Discuss Deterioration of Living Environment in Bulgaria at Forum in Sofia

A round-table discussion on the degradation of Bulgaria’s living environment and the responsibility of architects and builders took place here on Thursday. The event, organized by the Alliance for High-Quality Baukultur (AHQB), brought together professionals from the sector, representatives of NGOs, businesses, and citizens.

The forum aimed to spark a public discussion on the key factors contributing to the worsening living environment in Bulgaria, as well as the roles of participants in the construction and investment process.

The first report, delivered by Ivan Markov, a member of the AHQB Executive Board, examined the factors behind the degradation of the living environment in this country. He stressed that the issue should be viewed not only from the perspective of architects and builders but also through the lens of contracting entities.

Markov framed his report within the context of European policies set out in the Davos Declaration (2018), which Bulgaria has officially endorsed. He noted that European analyses show a clear downward trend in the quality of living environments across Europe, with Bulgaria reflecting this broader tendency.

Among the most serious issues he highlighted were the lack of a clear distinction between public and private funding in the construction sector - estimated at around BGN 24 million, the absence of a national registry of illegal construction, which makes effective oversight impossible, the presence of "parasitic market niches" and protected segments serving specific groups. He also pointed to what he described as significant flaws in the regulatory framework including contradictions between legal texts, remnants of outdated socialist-era regulatory rationale, and excessive authority concentrated in the hands of the chief architect.

As steps toward counteracting these negative trends, Markov proposed removing outdated regulatory practices, introducing a mandatory analysis of the balance between public and private interests for every investment initiative, restoring the architect’s role as a trusted figure, eliminating artificial market niches, and reforming education.

The second presentation, given by AHQB Executive Board Chair Stoyan Todorov, focused on the shortcomings of current subsidized energy efficiency renovation models and offered concrete measures for improvement. His recommendations included ensuring programme continuity, strengthening the role of property owners so they can exercise real control over quality, and removing municipalities from their intermediary position to avoid conflicts of interest and delays. To support ongoing awareness-raising efforts, Todorov also presented AHQB’s online platform "Renovate the Right Way," available at the organization’s website.