Improving citizen participation in the processes of formulation, implementation and monitoring of policy and legislation related to environmental protection

The issue addressed by the present project proposal is extremely topical due to the public tensions in 2018 related to the published results of the Court of Auditors' Audit Report on Environmental Policy and Air Pollution in Bulgaria, which is first among victims of the dirty air with 118 deaths per 100,000. The report, developed by the Supreme Audit Institutions of more than 13 countries, together with the European Court of Auditors, criticizes all involved state structures and stakeholders (NGOs and businesses) for lack of policy coherence and transparency in the implementation of conservation policy of the environment. It is crucial for citizens and businesses to be involved in active public consultations at national level to take pro-active participation in the process of formulating new, more reliable and transparent solutions to this state policy. In European context, on 28 June 2018, the EP and the Council adopted a new Regulation (EC) 2018/956 on the monitoring and reporting of carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption of new heavy goods vehicles. The regulation is part of the overall EU efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and is another step towards a competitive low carbon economy. It recommends Member States to implement a package of measures to increase transparency in environmental policy implementation and to improve the exchange of information between NGOs, citizens, businesses and national authorities responsible for this policy. Within the project proposal, the Project Applicant - Association VOB, together with the partner organization - Executive Environment Agency, offer an integrated complex of activities aimed at improving partnership management with citizens and businesses in the field of environmental protection.

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