Czech Minister of the Environment Visits Bulgaria
26.05.2025 / 14:32 | Aktualizováno: 28.05.2025 / 14:45
From May 22 to 24, 2025, Czech Minister of the Environment Petr Hladík paid an official visit to Bulgaria. The aim of the trip was to strengthen bilateral cooperation, supported by the fact that both the Czech Republic and Bulgaria will undergo a Voluntary National Review (VNR) in New York this year, assessing their progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition to the professional part of the visit, Minister Hladík also found time before his return to Prague to support the Czech Salesian Mission in Stara Zagora, where he took part in the ceremonial consecration of a new church.
The highlight of the program was the expert seminar titled “Voluntary National Reviews – The Impact and Best Practices in the Protection of the Environment”, held on Friday at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Sofia. The event was opened by Minister Hladík, accompanied by the Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Environment and Water, Atanas Kostadinov, and the Czech Ambassador to Bulgaria, Miroslav Toman.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister Kostadinov described sustainable development as a compromise between reality and idealism, which requires careful consideration of all social, economic, and, of course, environmental impacts of the decisions made. He emphasized that the SDGs should be seen as a core framework guiding both expert and political decision-making.
In response, Minister Hladík underlined that sustainable development is not a theory, but a daily practice, with consequences evident in the form of climate extremes – droughts, floods, and unpredictable weather. He noted that the Czech Republic’s 2025 Voluntary National Review is not only an opportunity for self-reflection but also a demonstration of the importance of international cooperation and the sharing of best practices.
Following the seminar opening, a bilateral meeting took place at the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water, during which both parties confirmed a shared interest in deeper cooperation on environmental policy, climate change adaptation, and sustainable management of natural resources. The discussion also covered the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law and support for the circular economy. The parties also touched upon the upcoming EU ETS 2 system and the challenge of mitigating its social impacts.
The delegation then traveled to Stara Zagora, where on Saturday, May 24, Minister Hladík visited the Czech Salesian Mission and participated in the consecration ceremony of the new Catholic Church of Mary Help of Christians. The ceremony held not only a spiritual dimension but also a strong social meaning, symbolizing support for Czech community initiatives with a deep cross-border impact.