Environmental Risks and Threats to Water Resources in the Economic Structuring and Implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria

This report emphasizes the need for Ecology to be a central pillar of national sustainability policy across all economic sectors and social development areas. Bulgarian water resources should be managed not merely as commercial products but as critical elements of the natural environment. Continued neglect and lack of proactive thinking on water issues risk rendering any strategy ineffective. Is Bulgarian society ready to demand and enforce actions treating Ecology, especially water, as the most significant common good and limited resource, to be preserved and used sustainably in terms of quality and quantity? This report builds on the research by experts from the Department of Regional Development at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), analyzing the role of local administrations and communities in resource management. The current focus is on evaluating environmental risks to water resources from investment projects in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). Although the NRRP should have a strong ecological focus, there is a risk of adverse effects from its implementation. Planned investments may not contribute to sustainable development unless each project is verified for compliance with Bulgaria's environmental priorities.