The Environment Ministry (MOSV) said Burgas and Smolyan received a total of €734,462.86 last week under the 2021–2027 Environment programme to improve air quality.

The money came in two interim payments under the "Air" strand, the "For cleaner air" line. The two towns will use it to improve air quality and cut pollution.

The programme has so far contracted €362.52m in clean-air measures. The ministry gave BTA the data for the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, on 7 September.

The programme made 21 payments worth €3,901,597.75 in total over the week, the ministry said on its website. The money went to water, waste, nature, flood protection, air and the running of the programme itself.

Waste projects got the biggest share, €1,440,114.35 in 7 payments. Haskovo and Targovishte received a total of €365,583.74 in two interim payments for restoring regional landfills and household waste cells.

The other 5 payments are for systems that collect and recycle biodegradable waste separately, which municipalities are building, expanding or upgrading. Silistra received an advance of €612,431.38, and Omurtag an interim payment of €235,367.40. Tervel, Dobrich and Cherven Bryag got a total of €226,731.83 in three interim payments.

Rudozem and Devin received a total of €302,297.21 as two advances under the "Nature-based measures for flood risk prevention and management" line. According to the ministry, the money should reduce the risk of floods. It should help towns, villages and their facilities cope better with very high or very low water and with climate change.

For nature protection, the programme paid out €292,435.70 in 5 payments. The South-East and South-West State Enterprises received two interim payments, €109,347.42 in total, for measures under the National Prioritised Action Framework for Natura 2000.

The directorate of Sinite Kamani Nature Park in Sliven received an interim payment of €32,489.33 under measure 70 of the same framework. The Pirin National Park directorate received an advance of €20,746.17 under measure 74. The Executive Environment Agency received €129,852.78 to monitor the brown bear population.

Under the "Water" strand there was one payment, an advance of €148,161.18 for the Black Sea Basin Directorate in Varna. The money is to update the River Basin Management Plan for the Black Sea region for 2028–2033. It will pay for collecting and analysing data, running studies and assessments, updating methods and planning measures to keep waters in good condition.

Four interim payments worth €984,126.45 in total are for technical assistance, meaning the management, monitoring, delivery and promotion of the programme.