The analysis regarding the Bulgarian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and its energy and climate related reforms and investments was executed for the period October 2023 – October 2024, by the energy expert Petko Kovachev. The aim was to explore the role of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) – a particularly important decarbonisation fund, part of the EU Budget, and to see how its allocation contributed to financing the transition and the FitFor55 implementation at national level. 

The new 2024 report ‘NRRP – one year with no progress, with five payments already at risk’ (English version on the link), is continuation of our 2023 report ‘NRRP and the second instalment – is there real progress?’ (ENG executive summary).

The report focuses on the non-fulfillment of the second payment under the NRRP – which political decisions and how contributed to the blocking of these significant funds for strengthening decarbonization and the just transition in Bulgaria (as 57.5% of the funds are planned for green investments). 

The text also touches upon what is done and not done from the implementation of the third to the sixth payments (as we should be in the sixth payment period).

A commentary is also provided on the decarbonisation projects affected by the reduced maximum funding under art. 11, Regulation (EU) 2021/241.

Another highlight is the assessment of the proposals of the caretaker government from September 2024 for changes in the NRRP under art. 21 and proposals for energy projects that should be included into the Bulgarian REPowerEU chapter, that is yet not submitted.

The author also offers a speed plan with recommendations for getting out of the current situation of timelessness and lack of progress.