In the debate between "Nature or Regional Development," there is no "or," as only through preserved nature can a healthy society be built. And only a healthy society can create a strong economy. This argument was presented by Borislav Sandov, leader of the Green Movement's European Parliament candidate list and parliamentary candidate in the 22nd and 23rd constituencies, during his appearance on the BNT program "More from the Day."
He pointed out that the fact that Green parties are part of the governing coalitions in wealthy European countries like Germany, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, and Spain serves as evidence of this.
When asked about the "uncertain future" of coal plants, Sandov responded that the future is entirely clear—it’s not a question of whether the coal plants will be closed, but when this will happen. He emphasized that Bulgarian politicians need to stop misleading people in coal regions into believing that closure can be avoided, stating that the market situation makes this inevitable.
Sandov also explained the process of paying for carbon emissions, where enterprises emitting emissions must buy quotas to offset them, purchased on the European market. The funds generated are then distributed among the states, with Bulgaria receiving over 2 billion BGN annually. However, instead of investing these funds in preventing emissions and new technologies, they are being used to plug gaps in the energy sector, supporting uncompetitive coal production.
He noted that Bulgaria has already become a net importer of electricity even before closing the coal plants. This is not due to their closure but because cheaper electricity from renewable energy sources (RES) is being produced abroad. The question is why Bulgaria imports this energy instead of producing it domestically.
"We're not just talking about replacing one large energy source with another. We're talking about energy democracy—people should be producing their own energy on their rooftops. We need to utilize all already disturbed lands—quarries, old mines, landfills—and cover them with photovoltaic plants, fostering a competitive market," Sandov added.
He also mentioned that significant funds have been allocated to help miners find jobs in other sectors within the same regions. These funds must be directed toward new industries in those regions to prevent mass unemployment.
The Green Movement left the coalition with We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) because it started losing its democratic values, and decisions were increasingly being made by a small circle. Sandov explained that if Democratic Bulgaria had been able to run independently as a coalition of three parties, as it was initially founded, they likely would have remained in that format. He also expressed hope that the public support the party receives will translate into electoral support.
