Bankwatch Network Criticizes Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Plan for Lack of Transparency

Although the Bulgarian Recovery and Resilience Plan proposes some positive measures for the environment and climate, it also includes investments in fossil fuels and hydrogen that may lock the country in to gas infrastructure. This is stated in an of the Bankwatch Network assessment of the Bulgarian Recovery Plan published in May.

According to the organization, investments in fossil fuels have no future and cannot be part of the country's long-term policy. Bulgaria must prioritize renewable energy sources (RES), and support for natural gas, coal and oil must be suspended.

According to the report, throughout the elaboration of the plan, there was a lack of transparency in decision-making, as well as a lack of feedback given to organizations and experts who submitted suggestions for improvement to the plan's measures. 

The network of NGOs in the economy and finance sector monitors the social and environmental impacts of public investment in the EU. This includes analyzing recovery plans in several Eastern European Member States, verifying that they are in line with the European Green Pact.

Bulgaria's plan must both take these voices into account and include more measures that are consistent with the EU's objectives if the country wants to be aligned with the EU Green Deal.

"For years, Bulgarian governments have not functioned transparently. Especially in the energy sector, decisions are taken in secret and this leads to serious problems with corruption.", says the report.

The organization commented that Bulgaria must ensure that it follows the course towards a climate-neutral economy. In the report, the country has been criticized for a lack of ambition and transparency in the development of its investment plan worth BGN 12...