Brussels, July 17 – The European Commission has initiated a fresh infringement procedure against Bulgaria for its failure to comply with new EU rules aimed at reducing methane emissions, underscoring broader concerns about Sofia’s implementation of key European directives.
The Commission announced on Wednesday that it had sent a letter of formal notice—the first step in EU infringement proceedings—after Bulgaria failed to appoint a competent national authority responsible for implementing and enforcing the recently adopted Methane Regulation (EU) 2024/1787).
The regulation, part of the EU’s broader climate and energy policy, aims to significantly cut methane emissions in the energy sector, particularly from oil, gas, and coal operations. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is considered the second-largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide.
“The absence of a designated authority undermines the enforcement of critical monitoring and mitigation measures under the new regulation,” the Commission said in a statement.
Should Bulgaria fail to notify the Commission of such an appointment within the given time frame, the case may advance to the next stage, where the Commission can issue a reasoned opinion—a formal request for compliance.
In addition to this new infringement case, the Commission also escalated eight ongoing legal proceedings against Bulgaria by sending reasoned opinions, warning of possible referrals to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) if no corrective action is taken within two months.
These reasoned opinions cover a wide range of legislative failures:
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Inadequate transposition of the Waste Framework Directive
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Breaches of public procurement rules
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Shortcomings in implementing the Services Directive
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Failure to transpose the Directive on the Resilience of Critical Entities
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Non-compliance with rules on interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings
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Gaps in enforcing the Bank Own Funds and Liabilities Directive
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Failures regarding the EU VAT Directive, including specific provisions for small and medium-sized enterprises
Each of these areas reflects the Commission’s broader scrutiny of Bulgaria’s performance in aligning national legislation with binding EU law.
The European Commission’s infringement package, issued monthly, is a key enforcement tool to ensure member states uphold their treaty obligations.
While not uncommon, the volume and scope of Bulgaria’s cases this month have raised eyebrows in Brussels, with some officials privately expressing concern about systemic delays in legislative implementation in Sofia.
If the country does not rectify the identified violations within two months, the Commission may refer the matters to the ECJ, potentially resulting in financial penalties.
Bulgaria has not yet publicly responded to the Commission’s latest warnings.
As the EU ramps up its climate and rule-of-law commitments, member states are under increasing pressure to not only transpose legislation promptly but also enforce it effectively through designated authorities and regulatory oversight.