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National responses
Bulgaria's international commitments on cutting harmful substance emissions
Directive 2001/81/ЕС requires each Member State to maintain set national ceilings for emissions of four major pollutants: sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrous oxide (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and ammonia (NH3) by 2010, with 1990 as the benchmark year. In 2007, Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers adopted the National Programme for Restricting Overall Annual National Emissions of Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, Volatile Organic Compounds and Ammonia, which advocates even lower levels for the emission of these substances. These levels are to be met by bringing large thermal installations in line with statutory requirements. Programme commitments were included in the treaty for Bulgarian accession to the European Union.
| Atmospheric pollutants | 2007 emissions |
Commitments under Directive 2001/81/ЕC |
Commitments under the NP set out in Bulgarian CMR No. 261 |
Commitments under the NP set out in Bulgarian CMR No. 261 |
Commitments under the NP set out in Bulgarian CMR No. 261 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2010 |
2010 |
2015 |
2020 |
||
| SOx (as SO2) | 854 | 836 | 380 | 300 | 250 |
| NOx (as NO2) | 188 | 247 | 247 | 247 | 247 |
| NMVOC | 120 | 175 | 175 | 175 | 175 |
| NH3 | 58 | 108 | 108 | 108 | 108 |
Figure 15. Annual trends in harmful substance emissions and accession negotiation commitments (ktonnes).
Over the next decade, emission reductions will continue to progress with the implementation of the best available technology, use of cleaner fuels and more sustainable resources and the installation of sulphur filters at coal-fired power stations.
Measures to improve air quality
Complete harmonisation of European and Bulgarian air quality legislation was achieved by late 2007. The new CAFE Directive 2008/50/ЕС will be transposed into Bulgarian law by mid-2010.
| European legislation | National legislation |
|---|---|
| The Framework Directive 96/62ЕС on air quality assessment and management |
The Atmospheric Air Cleanliness Act (published in the Darzhaven Vestnik Official Gazette, Issue No. 45 dated 28 May 1996 and last amended in the Darzhaven Vestnik Issue No. 112 dated 23 December 2003) Order No. 7/99 on Air Quality Assessment and Management |
| Directive 99/30/ЕС on sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide, fine particulate matter and lead in ambient air | Order No. 9/99 on sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide, fine dust particulates and lead in atmospheric air, amended and extended in 2006 |
| Directive 2002/3/ЕС on ozone and alarm thresholds for ozone levels in ambient air | Order No. 4/2004 on norms for ozone and alarm thresholds for ozone levels in atmospheric air |
| Directive 2000/69ЕС on benzene and carbon dioxide in ambient air | Order No. 1/2004 on norms for benzene and carbon dioxide in atmospheric air |
| Directive 2004/107/ЕС on heavy metals, arsenic and polyaromatic carbon nitrogens in ambient air | Order No. 11/2007 on norms for arsenic, cadmium, nickel and polycyclic aromatic carbon nitrogens in atmospheric air |
| Directive 2008/50/ЕC on ambient air quality and on cleaner air in Europe | To be transposed into Bulgarian law |
The Bulgarian municipalities play an important role in air quality improvement. For example, to implement Directive 96/62/ЕС (Order No. 7/99) in communities with air quality problems, municipalities developed programmes to cut air pollutant levels in order to meet the required standards. The communities and pollutants subject to municipal clean air programmes are listed on the IAOS website (http://eea.government.bg/bul/NSMOS/Air/ROUKAV/index.html). The programmes comprise short and long-term measures which are implemented by the municipalities.
Figures
Figure 15
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