24. From Convergent to Ecological Transition—Challenges for the Management and Regional Development of Bulgaria

Many complex challenges have marked Europe's transition to Economy 4.0 and Society 5.0. One of them, considered at all possible levels of government, is implementing EU environmental policy. The consensus in principle in this area does not always lead to the achievement of strategic environmental goals. The reasons are rooted in the objective comprehensiveness of the ecological transition. We argue that it is evolving far beyond the complicated governance structure of the Union. An additional condition is an undeniable and very close connection between the national and integrated economy with global and regional trends. The transformation to Bulgaria's environmentally friendly economy was preceded by a socio-economic transition, culminating in the country's integration into the EU and a convergent transition, which we will say is only in its infancy. Therefore, we are faced with assessing Bulgaria's potential to mobilize its available resources (managerial, spiritual, cultural, material, financial, and integration) to develop the most effective available “environmental” tools. Environmental policy should not be implemented only with the tools for management and administrative control but should also be added to the available scientific, financial, and technical means.