site.btaDeputy Environment Minister: European Court of Justice May Condemn Bulgaria over Air Quality

Bulgaria will most likely be condemned by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) because of the air quality, said caretaker Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Reneta Koleva at a round table titled "United for cleaner air" in the Vrana Palace near Sofia on Friday.

She said that air quality is a very big problem. There are lawsuits filed against Bulgaria for high levels of fine particulate matter and Bulgaria is expected to be condemned for non-compliance with the EU directive, Minister Koleva explained. 

She said there is interest in programmes to replace old heating appliances and wood and coal stoves, which shows that this is the right way to go. The ministry expects that in the new programming period a lot of resources will be directed to improving air quality.

BTA reminds its readers that in May the CJEU upheld a lawsuit filed by the European Commission against Bulgaria over air pollution in the southeastern part of the country.

Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova also attended the forum. A steady trend for the improvement of air quality is reported in Sofia, Fandakova said, adding that over the last three years there has been a steady reduction of pollutants in the air in the capital.