site.btaLarge Part of Allocation under EU Social Climate Fund Will Go to Construction - Minister

The allocation for Bulgaria under the  EU Social Climate Fund amount to nearly EUR 3.5 billion, with a significant portion of the funds expected to be directed to the construction sector, said Environment and Water Minister Yulian Popov at a meeting with the leadership of the Bulgarian Construction Chamber, the ministry said.

The meeting discussed key European policies affecting the construction sector, including ETS 1 and ETS 2, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and the Social Climate Fund, the ministry reported. Popov stressed that Bulgaria still lacks a unified national position on these issues, which complicates internal dialogue and the country’s representation at the European level.

The Construction Chamber highlighted the need for better awareness and coordination regarding European policies. Builders raised questions related to progress on the Environment Programme 2021–2027, water shortages, delayed payments to businesses, and the possibility of price adjustment for projects dating from 2020 onwards.

Regarding water shortages, Minister Popov noted that “until the holes in Pleven’s water supply system is fixed, even building a reservoir will not solve the city’s problems.” Deputy Minister Petar Dimitrov added that European funding is primarily aimed at wastewater treatment and cannot cover investments in water supply systems, making additional national solutions necessary.