ABSTRACT
As one of the most coal-dependent and yet least economically developed countries in the European Union (EU), Bulgaria has fully subscribed to the EU’s climate-neutrality 2050 goal. At the same time, policymakers envision relying on coal for up to another 60 years. By drawing on data from 20 expert interviews and an in-depth analysis of relevant documents and publications, the study identifies four objectives for the energy sector: (1) security of supply, (2) affordable electricity prices, (3) support for domestic energy industry and local actors, and (4) alignment with EU policies. The study distills the influence that the coal regime has on each objective and finds that coal plays a central role for three out of the four objectives. However, with the increasing prices of allowances under the EU’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) and the entry into force of more stringent EU emissions standards, the coal regime is being further destabilized and its future is becoming ever more uncertain.
