EC confirmed it has received Bulgaria's Just Transition plans for the coal-mining regions

The European Commission confirmed today, October 2, that on Saturday it had received from the Bulgarian authorities the territorial just transition plans for the coal mining regions. A spokesman for the commission said that the Commission's assessment could be expected within four months. In the first two months, the Commission can submit its comments, if any, and in the next two months it can decide whether to approve the proposals.

"We will assess to what extent the plans contain everything that is needed, the objectives outlined and the ways that are envisaged to support the regions concerned moving towards a cleaner economy. On that basis we will decide whether to approve the plans. I can't say what amounts are foreseen for the individual activities set out in the plan," a spokesperson said.

The European Commission also said on Friday that Bulgaria had requested changes to its Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Bulgaria's request is based on the need to take into account the reduction of the maximum grant under the Recovery and Resilience facility from €6.27 billion to €5.69 billion. The revision is part of the June 2022 update and reflects Bulgaria's relatively better economic performance in 2020 and 2021 than originally foreseen.

Bulgaria's proposed amendment to the plan, which will now be assessed by the Commission, affects 17 investments included in the original plan. Some of these investments have been reduced, such as those related to the energy efficiency of public buildings, the national renewable electricity storage infrastructure and the modernisation of hospital facilities. Three investments have been removed from the plan, namely those supporting the digital transformation of the Bulgarian Post, the construction of an intermodal transport terminal in Rousse and the digitisation of water management, control and efficiency.

The Commission now has up to two months to assess whether the revised plan still meets all the criteria. If the Commission's assessment is positive, it will make a proposal for an amended Council Implementing Decision to reflect the changes in the Bulgarian plan. Member States will then have up to four weeks to approve the Commission's assessment.