Bulgaria
R E P U B L I C O F
BULGARIA
STATEMENT
by H.E. Mrs. Dolores Arssenova
Minister of Environment and Water
of the Republic of Bulgaria
at the High Level Segment
of the 12th Session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development
New York
29 April 2004
Check against delivery
Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,
Enhancing the opportunities for providing sufficient and safe drinking water for the
population, adequate sanitation, as well as an overall improvement of environment in human
settlements are among the main priorities of Agenda 21, the Millennium Declaration and the
decisions of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 .
In this context the Republic of Bulgaria welcomes the commitment of the Commission on
Sustainable Development to devote this first two-year cycle of its new multi-year program of
work to these issues, which play an important role in achieving sustainable development on a
global scale .
I have the pleasure to report that my country has considerable achievements in this area . With
central water supply for 98 .8 % of the population and large-scale programs for construction of
adequate sewerage and wastewater treatment infrastructure under implementation, long before
2015 Bulgaria has already reached the water and sanitation related Millennium Development
Goals on a national scale. Still, bringing down water losses in the pipeline system remains a
problem. The 1999 Water Act envisages a series of economic incentives and provides a good
basis for private sector initiative and public-private partnerships in the form of water supply
concessions for the big cities, which are expected to help solve this problem .
Aware of the significance of water for the quality of life and economic development, Bulgaria
gives priority to integrated water resources management . With this goal in mind, together with
the provision of an adequate legal basis, institutional capacity building measures are being
undertaken. Thus, four River Basin Management Directorates were set up in 2002 as the main
bodies responsible for the implementation of water policy at the basin level and being able to
address specific social and economic issues related to water in the respective regions in the
best possible way. River Basin Councils have also been set up to provide a platform for wide
stakeholder involvement in water management, integrating priority issues for the private
sector, municipalities, farmers, the general public, etc.
Currently, River Basin Management Plans having the key features of integrated water
resources management plans as conceived in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation are
being developed. In accordance with Bulgaria's foreign policy priorities targeting the
country's accession to the European Union we are committed to complete by year 2009 the
preparation of River Basin Management Plans consistent with the requirements of the Water
Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and based on improved information and monitoring
systems.
The recognized need for an integrated approach to water management and the existing
political will provide a sound basis for Bulgaria's contribution to the joint efforts of the
riparian countries aimed at achieving good ecological status of water in the international
Danube River Basin, as well as to bilateral cooperation with neighboring countries on transboundary
watercourses management issues .
1
In addition to the social and economic function of water, its significance for aquatic
ecosystems is an important aspect of sustainable water resource management . In this respect,
by relying on both international support and domestic resources, Bulgaria is implementing
programs for wetland restoration and conservation of water related ecosystems, which
constitute part of the measures for significant reduction in the current rate of loss of
biodiversity by 2010 .
Bulgaria supports the International Decade for Action "Water for Life" declared by the
General Assembly and calls for targeted and coordinated action-oriented measures, which will
bring practical results through various international programs and initiatives in this area .
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Access to water is a basic human right and our mission as politicians and human beings is to
conduct a responsible policy with regard to the management and rational use of this resource
in the spirit of international solidarity and cooperation . Our goal should be not only to avoid
possible water-related conflicts in the future but also to provide future generations with
opportunities for a better life .
Thank you .
BULGARIA
STATEMENT
by H.E. Mrs. Dolores Arssenova
Minister of Environment and Water
of the Republic of Bulgaria
at the High Level Segment
of the 12th Session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development
New York
29 April 2004
Check against delivery
Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,
Enhancing the opportunities for providing sufficient and safe drinking water for the
population, adequate sanitation, as well as an overall improvement of environment in human
settlements are among the main priorities of Agenda 21, the Millennium Declaration and the
decisions of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 .
In this context the Republic of Bulgaria welcomes the commitment of the Commission on
Sustainable Development to devote this first two-year cycle of its new multi-year program of
work to these issues, which play an important role in achieving sustainable development on a
global scale .
I have the pleasure to report that my country has considerable achievements in this area . With
central water supply for 98 .8 % of the population and large-scale programs for construction of
adequate sewerage and wastewater treatment infrastructure under implementation, long before
2015 Bulgaria has already reached the water and sanitation related Millennium Development
Goals on a national scale. Still, bringing down water losses in the pipeline system remains a
problem. The 1999 Water Act envisages a series of economic incentives and provides a good
basis for private sector initiative and public-private partnerships in the form of water supply
concessions for the big cities, which are expected to help solve this problem .
Aware of the significance of water for the quality of life and economic development, Bulgaria
gives priority to integrated water resources management . With this goal in mind, together with
the provision of an adequate legal basis, institutional capacity building measures are being
undertaken. Thus, four River Basin Management Directorates were set up in 2002 as the main
bodies responsible for the implementation of water policy at the basin level and being able to
address specific social and economic issues related to water in the respective regions in the
best possible way. River Basin Councils have also been set up to provide a platform for wide
stakeholder involvement in water management, integrating priority issues for the private
sector, municipalities, farmers, the general public, etc.
Currently, River Basin Management Plans having the key features of integrated water
resources management plans as conceived in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation are
being developed. In accordance with Bulgaria's foreign policy priorities targeting the
country's accession to the European Union we are committed to complete by year 2009 the
preparation of River Basin Management Plans consistent with the requirements of the Water
Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and based on improved information and monitoring
systems.
The recognized need for an integrated approach to water management and the existing
political will provide a sound basis for Bulgaria's contribution to the joint efforts of the
riparian countries aimed at achieving good ecological status of water in the international
Danube River Basin, as well as to bilateral cooperation with neighboring countries on transboundary
watercourses management issues .
1
In addition to the social and economic function of water, its significance for aquatic
ecosystems is an important aspect of sustainable water resource management . In this respect,
by relying on both international support and domestic resources, Bulgaria is implementing
programs for wetland restoration and conservation of water related ecosystems, which
constitute part of the measures for significant reduction in the current rate of loss of
biodiversity by 2010 .
Bulgaria supports the International Decade for Action "Water for Life" declared by the
General Assembly and calls for targeted and coordinated action-oriented measures, which will
bring practical results through various international programs and initiatives in this area .
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Access to water is a basic human right and our mission as politicians and human beings is to
conduct a responsible policy with regard to the management and rational use of this resource
in the spirit of international solidarity and cooperation . Our goal should be not only to avoid
possible water-related conflicts in the future but also to provide future generations with
opportunities for a better life .
Thank you .
Stakeholders