"We will not let Bulgaria receive sanctions in connection with the recommendations made by theEuropean Commission," Environment and Water Minister Djevdet Chakurov told journalists in Parliament on Friday.

He was asked to comment on the written warning sent by the European Commission on Thursday in connection with the incorrect implementation of the Waste Framework Directive.

The scope of the working group of the Environment and Water Ministry and Sofia Municipality, which has been working on the problem of household waste in Sofia, has been enlarged; representatives of other ministries have been included, Chakurov said.

He said he has asked for a meeting with EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas and Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner.

It is being discussed how to provide funding under an operational programme for the waste management project in Sofia, Chakurov said. This will be decided in dialogue with the European Commission, he said.

The Minister said the project for Sofia is a priority one both for the central government and the municipality.

A total of 367 million euro has been earmarked in the financial framework for the Operational Programme for the Environment - there is no way of building the plant and all regional landfills, he said. One opportunity, which is a European practice, is to build these plants through public-private partnership, he said. According to Chakurov, there is very serious investor interest.

The Minister said that the waste problem in Sofia has been inherited by the central government and the municipality. Its solution is a priority for the Environment and Water Ministry, he said.

Source: BTA