The European Commission has created a Social Climate Fund to support vulnerable groups in the transition to carbon-neutral transport and heating/cooling, as well as energy communities. Its total value is €87 billion. Bulgaria will receive nearly €2.5 billion of this amount. However, in order to access the funds, each Member State must submit a Social Climate Plan – a strategic document describing the steps and investments. The public consultation on the draft in Bulgaria was open until July 20. The document is expected to be adopted by the end of the year. EUR 1.3 billion has been allocated to the transport sector. The money must be spent on projects from the beginning of 2026 to the end of 2031. The plan also provides for the purchase of electric minibuses to villages and hard-to-reach places in Bulgaria, said Danail Popov from the Za Zemata (For the Earth) association. According to the organization’s opinion, the plan should also finance bicycle transport. For now, however, Bulgaria refuses to accept that bicycle transport is not entertainment, but a form of eco-friendly transport, the association comments.
A series of “soft measures” must also be included, commented Daniel Popov from “Za Zemata.” He gave the example of the planned investments in trains, but without planning for transport to the new railway stations. This means that there is a real danger that they will remain unused.
Continued – Transport-poor: the “Black Sea Route” alternative
See: Transport-poor: With a bike in the trunk, 12 km from the sea
