European Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva: A new scheme under ‘Horizon Europe’ for the use of discarded waste materials will be launched in June

SOFIA – A new scheme under the “Horizon Europe” program for developing solutions for the secondary use of waste materials that have been discarded will be launched in June. This was stated by the European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva, who participated in the official opening of a pilot mobile installation for the production of recycled construction materials MOBICCON-PRO near Kremikovtsi. The project is funded with 9.5 million euros from the European Union under the “Horizon Europe” program and is being implemented in collaboration with Bulgarian and foreign universities and research institutes.

Zaharieva pointed out that 151 million euros have already been invested in innovative solutions under the “Horizon Europe” program, and a new scheme will be launched in June, which will amount to 48 million euros for developing solutions for the secondary use of discarded waste materials. 

This project is a clear example of how environmental protection, the green deal, and competitiveness, i.e., the private sector, can go hand in hand. It also shows that the private sector and science – universities, academies of sciences, can work together to achieve a common goal in service of citizens. The second valuable aspect of this project is that it creates a network and connections, as many countries are involved in it,” noted the European Commissioner.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomisлав Donchev, we live in times when all green topics are important. By 2010, there were only three waste management systems in Bulgaria that met European standards. Bulgaria has made progress in terms of the circular economy and we have advanced in recycling glass, metal, and paper, but we still have a way to go regarding wood, textiles, and construction waste. Smart societies do not waste resources and do not pollute the environment, and I prefer that we be able to load this facility to 100% rather than fill the ravines with construction waste, said Donchev. 

According to him, the circular economy allows us to turn waste into a resource, into raw material, which besides being a green topic, also means economic benefits. 

According to the Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov, there are ideas for legislative changes that would allow municipalities to control the flows of construction waste, as this is an example of how to protect nature. 

MEP Tsvetelina Penkova, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy in the European Parliament, noted that a key priority for European institutions is the fair and sustainable transformation of the industry. Recycling construction waste and reusing it is a direct response to one of the major challenges facing Europe, namely resource dependence, she emphasized. According to her, the MOBICCON-PRO project shows that the construction sector can be a platform for innovations, technologies, and solutions for a sustainable, secure, and fair future.

“Horizon Europe” is the European Union’s framework program for research and innovation for the period 2021 – 2027, according to the website of the European Council. The program aims to strengthen the scientific and technological foundation of the EU, including through the development of solutions for the ecological and digital transition, to contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals, to stimulate competitiveness and growth, by supporting research and innovation from concept to market realization. The program has a budget of 95.5 billion euros. (03.05.2025)