Legal framework and financial resources are the two major problems for the water and sewerage sector, Minister Cerovski announced at the opening of the Ninth Scientific-Practical Conference: Technologies and Governance of the Water Quality in Bulgaria

Legal framework and financial resources are the two major problems for the water and sewerage sector, Minister Cerovski announced at the opening of the Ninth Scientific-Practical Conference: Technologies and Governance of the Water Quality in Bulgaria and the Sixth Seminar: The Private Sector Entering Water & Sewerage Utility Services. 3,5 billion euro are needed only to set the sector within normal standards, added Minister Cerovski. The financial problem is the easier one to solve because if we propose well grounded concepts and answer the question of the sector being put in normal economic, social and political media, I am convinced that financial institutions will provide the necessary resources, underlined Minister Cerovski. He added that in regard to the legal framework it is of paramount importance that the user interests are protected by the respective regulatory body. It is also necessary to be held a public debate on decisions in legal sphere. The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works is dealing with the establishment of a positive practice and a typical example is our cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as we attempt to provide funding for 6 water and sewerage companies without sovereign guarantees, emphasized Minister Cerovski. Currently that scheme is being implemented in the water and sewerage companies in Plovdiv and Bourgas and if the results are positive it will be applied in the other 4 companies. It is envisaged that EBRD will give credit for the two pilot companies, each is worth 10 million euro, as well as to be attracted grant of 30 million euro under the ISPA programme, also with the cooperation of the bank. PR & International Relations Directorate