The Minister of Environment and Water, Ms. Evdokia Maneva, also attended the Second National Meeting of Environmental Organisations which hosted representatives from over 116 organisations. She briefed the audience on the main tasks of the Ministry: harmonisation of Bulgarian legislation with European legislation, monitoring functions and international activity.

In respect of the approximation to the European legislation the Ministry has drafted Instructions to complement the Waste Act and the Air Act. A national programme for waste management had been adopted and a summary of it is to be produced. A team from the Ministry is to draft an action plan in relation to the preservation of bio-variety.

Minister Maneva stressed the improvement in the way Regional Inspectorates on Environment and Water (RIEW) function, each of them having to carry out 280-300 checks weekly. As a good example of their efficiency she pointed out that they have suspended 26 businesses.

With regard to international activities, Bulgaria has signed two conventions: the Convention on Access to Information and the Convention on Preservation of the Danube River; for the time being, however, Bulgaria has ratified only the latter.

Priority areas for the Ministry for the months of April and May are waste and illegal fishing.

As expected, many questions were addressed to the Minister, most of which had to do with the Procedure on Environmental Impact Assessment and its violation. However, Ms. Maneva replied that in the near future there is no likelihood for the Ministry tackling the issue. Another question that was raised concerned the issue of granting a concession on the Ropotamo natural reserve. The Ministry does not, she said, have enough experience in this respect and this is why it has not as yet decided about the reserve. It has been pointed out that no concession to an NGO is allowed, concessions being provided for in the Trade Act; however, action within the reserve could be assigned to NGOs. As regards the other burning issue - the construction of the Gorna Arda Cascade - Minister Maneva was unequivocal - nothing could stop the implementation of this project.

The meeting with the Minister of Environment and Water was conducted in a calm and peaceful atmosphere. Exchanging views with her was useful but it was clear that the Ministry of Environment and Water is in a somewhat subordinate position in relation to other ministries as regards some really very serious projects, which, unless implemented, pose imminent threats to Bulgarian nature.

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