Updated last 18.06.2025
Legal Framework
Regulated by the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation (EIA Regulation/Ordinance), based on European Directive 2011/92/EU (with references to 2014/52/EU).
The procedure for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an integral part of the implementation of each and every major investment project. Whether you are investing in the construction of a motorway, an industrial building, hotel complex, etc., you should always obtain a positive Decision from the competent authorities regarding the impact, your project implementation has on the environment.
The need of the EIA is set out in two regulatory documents, in accordance with the specificities of the development-project design, you are preparing.
When is it necessary to evaluate the need of EIA?
- For investment proposals in conformity with Appendix No. 2 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA);
- For any expansion or amendment to investment proposals in conformity with Appendix No. 2 of the EPA, which have already been approved or their approval is pending, they have been implemented or are currently being implemented, if such an expansion or change can result in a significant adverse impact on the environment;
- For any expansion or amendment to investment proposals in conformity with Appendix No. 1 to the EPA and Appendix No. 1 to art. 2 of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, which have already been approved or their approval is pending, they have been implemented or are currently being implemented, if such an expansion or change can result in a significant adverse impact on the environment;
- For investment proposals in conformity with Appendix No. 1 of the EPA, developed exclusively or mainly for the development and testing of new methods or products and which will last no longer than two years, with the exception of the installations for disposal of dangerous and non-dangerous waste through incineration or combined incineration within the meaning of the Waste Management Act;
- Investment proposals according to item 10.1 of Appendix No. 1, falling in the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 (OJ, L 300/1 of 14 November 2009).
Who can apply?
In conformity with paragraph 1, item 20 of the additional provisions of the EPA, the contracting party for an investment proposal is public authority, natural person or legal entity (Bulgarian or foreign), which, according to a special law, regulatory or administrative act, has the right to initiate or apply for approval of an investment proposal.
The request for the provision of such service may also be submitted through an expressly authorized person.
In case of change of the contracting party, the parameters of the investment proposal or any of the circumstances, applicable at the moment of issuance of the decision for the evaluation of the need of EIA, the contracting party or the new contracting party notify in due time the competent environmental authority. A list of the regional environmental inspectorates can be found here.
| Important to know | |
 | The decision/opinion for EIA loses its legal validity, if the implementation of the investment proposal has not started within 5 years after the entering into force of such decision, evidenced by an inspection of the supervisory environmental authorities. |
Competent authorities
The Minister of Environment and Waters or by the officials authorized by them in accordance with Article 6a of the Ordinance evaluate the need of the performance of EIA for:
- Plans, programs, investment proposals, or their amendments or expansions under Annexes № 1 and 2 to the Environmental Protection Act (EOA), for which the Minister of Environment and Water is the competent authority to carry out the procedures under Chapter Six of the EOA;
- Plans, programs, projects, investment proposals, or their amendments or expansions not included in Annexes № 1 and 2 to the EOA and falling within the scope of two or more Regional Environmental Protection and Water Inspectorates (REPWIs);
- Plans, programs, projects, investment proposals, or their amendments or expansions not included in Annexes № 1 and 2 to the EOA and located wholly or partly within a reserve, national park, or maintained reserve—protected areas under the Protected Areas Act;
- Projects, plans, and programs when approved by central executive authorities and by the National Assembly;
- Plans, programs, projects, investment proposals, or their amendments or expansions when the contracting authority is the director of the REPWI;
- Plans, programs, projects, investment proposals, or their amendments or expansions for facilities designated as of national significance by an act of the Council of Ministers;
- Plans, programs, projects, investment proposals, or their amendments or expansions for facilities located entirely within the Black Sea or the Danube River basin.
In all other cases, the competent authority is director of the respectice RIEW
| For more information | |
 | For more information on the evaluation of the need and the performance of Environmental Impact Assessment and the related regulatory framework please visit the website of the: |