site.btaParliament Overrides Presidential Veto on Amendments to Energy from Renewable Sources Act

The National Assembly on Tuesday overrode President Rumen Radev’s veto on the amendments to the Energy from Renewable Sources Act. The legislature re-adopted the bill with 126 votes in favour, 35 against, and eight abstentions.

The amendments were supported by MPs from GERB-UDF, Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning, BSP – United Left, Democracy, Rights and Freedoms, and There Is Such a People. From the Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria group, 23 MPs voted against and eight abstained. Two MPs from Vazrazhdane and ten from Morality, Unity, Honour also opposed the bill. The parliamentary group of Velichie did not participate in the vote.

On May 15, President Rumen Radev has imposed a partial veto on the bill amending and supplementing the Energy from Renewable Sources Act, which was adopted on May 8. In his reasoning, Radev stated that while he supports efforts to expedite the transposition of European directives and streamline administrative procedures, some of the proposed provisions do not correctly transpose EU legislation and even contradict certain EU acts.

The amendments, submitted by MPs from GERB-UDF and There Is Such a People, aim to accelerate procedures for building renewable energy power plants, including reduced timeframes for issuing permits (up to one year), as well as fast-tracked judicial review processes. This includes appeals related to environmental protection and biodiversity when implementing investment projects for the construction, modernization, and grid integration of renewable energy facilities. The law also targets reaching a minimum 14% share of renewable energy in the transport sector by 2030.