Parliamentary committee approves 2026 environment budget amid criticism

Budget 2026: Optimal expenses and debates in the relevant committee

The Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Water adopted at first reading the draft state budget for 2026. The decision was made with 14 votes "in favor," 6 "against," and zero "abstentions."

"This budget is optimal in relation to what we found. We are drastically reducing capital expenditures, and the actual reforms will be seen in the 2027 budget," stated Minister Rositsa Karamfilova.

Main financial parameters

• Total budget: 77,774,100 euros.
• Increase: 2,321,070 euros (3%) compared to 2025.
• Focus: Optimization of current expenses and digitalization.

Positions of political forces

The debates in the committee revealed serious differences in the opinions of the parliamentary groups:

• GERB-SDS: Described the document as a "budget of disappointment" due to the lack of a clear environmental policy.
• "We Continue the Change" and "Democratic Bulgaria": Expressed disapproval due to the lack of measurable reforms and goals, noting that the budget only finances the current status quo.
• DPS: Supported the draft, appreciating the efforts made, despite having some remarks.

Future steps and reforms

Dimitar Naydenov (DB) proposed organizing a roundtable regarding the introduction of a deposit system for waste, which is considered a key upcoming reform. On behalf of the business sector, Zhana Velichkova emphasized the need to accelerate digitalization and administrative services.