A thesis submitted to the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy of Central European University in part fulfilment of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Local environmental governance and environmental rules on the ground in Bulgarian municipalities Supervisor: Prof. Alexios Antypas, CEU PhD Committee: Prof. Ruben Mnatsakanian, CEU Dr. Svetlozar Andreev, Committee of the Regions CEU eTD Collection Plamen PEEV April, 2011 Budapest Notes on copyright and the ownership of intellectual property rights: (1) Copyright in text of this thesis rests with the Author. Copies (by any process) either in full, or of extracts, may be made only in accordance with instructions given by the Author and lodged in the Central European University Library. Details may be obtained from the Librarian. This page must form part of any such copies made. Further copies (by any process) of copies made in accordance with such instructions may not be made without the permission (in writing) of the Author. (2) The ownership of any intellectual property rights which may be described in this thesis is vested in the Central European University, subject to any prior agreement to the contrary, and may not be made available for use by third parties without the written permission of the University, which will prescribe the terms and conditions of any such agreement. (3) For bibliographic and reference purposes this thesis should be referred to as: Peev, P.P. 2011. Local environmental governance and environmental rules on the ground in Bulgarian municipalities. Doctoral thesis, Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Central European University, Budapest. Further information on the conditions under which disclosures and exploitation may take place is available from the Head of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Central European University. CEU eTD Collection ii Author’s declaration No portion of the work referred to in this thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or other institute of learning. Furthermore, this thesis contains no materials previously written and/or published by another person, except where appropriate acknowledgment is made in the form of bibliographical reference, etc. _________________ Plamen PEEV CEU eTD Collection iii THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY ABSTRACT OF THESIS submitted by: Plamen PEEV for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and entitled: Local environmental governance and environmental rules on the ground in Bulgarian municipalities. Month and Year of submission: April, 2011. The thesis is grounded in the research of local environmental governance (LEG) in Bulgaria. The concept of LEG has been explored in the theoretical context of the underlying theories of local governance, environmental governance, multi-level governance, Europeanization and rules. The intensive processes of governance reforms in Bulgaria have been fuelled by democratization, globalization and European Union (EU) accession and membership with impacts on all governance levels, including local level. The Europeanization of rules and practices has posed new powers and responsibilities on Bulgarian municipalities in environmental field (notably in waste and wastewater management). Bulgarian municipalities have been in the focus of the research as local governance space and unit of analysis. The data for the dissertation has been collected from field research with three in-depth case studies (Teteven, Lukovit and Dobrich urban), from interviews at national level, and from document sources and direct observations. Case municipalities represent medium-sized and big municipalities both of urban and rural type. LEG has been explored through the lens of rules and rule-making processes at local level. Three components of governance have been applied to the rules’ perspective: the subject of rules -actors (who), the object of rules (what) and rule-making process (how). Two main types of rules (legal and strategic) have been explored in detail as well as the informal rules related to these types. Mayor and municipal administration have been identified as central actors and rule-makers within the municipality’s realm. Other actors like local NGOs, businesses and even municipal councils have been found in far weaker position concerning capacity and interest in local environmental governance. The most sophisticated rules’ system has been developed for waste management whereas areas like soil and biodiversity protection and even climate change are missing or are at initial stage on local agenda. The patterns of rule-making and governance in general are dominated by leadership and personalities’ powers, closed rule-making system, traditionalism, local centralism (concentration of powers and resources at municipal administrations), weak civil society and still underdeveloped expert capacity. Rule enforcement is also rather weak and subjective. The Europeanization has been driving force and symbol of new governance arrangements externalized in rules, new staff and large environmental investment funding. The national administration is keeping its central position in development, implementation of environmental policies, and in guiding, monitoring and sanctioning local administrations. The importance of local circumstances has been exemplified by local actors and their capacity and interests. In some cases local level is not the most suitable level for environmental governance – e.g. in biodiversity protection and climate change. CEU eTD Collection Hierarchies have emerged as dominant governance structure that defines also the current mode of multi- level governance. Community, markets and networks have been found in many instances with potential to shape governance processes. The larger urban municipalities are in stronger governance position – with larger administration, budget and social capital - to deploy the full capacity of rules. Nevertheless, in rural municipalities environmental leaders and traditions with great value for community and with governance potential have been established. Keywords: local environmental governance, municipalities, actors, rules, rule-making, Bulgaria. iv DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to the dearest persons who have accompanied me throughout this emotional, intellectual and spiritual journey. To my wife Kaidi who was the main reason and inspiration to begin this late studentship and supported me in all my ways and crises. She is my morning, my day, my evening and my night. To my daughter Mia Johanna who is the most precious gift from God and has been my light and hope. To my parents Petko Peev Gatev and Velichka Angelova Gateva who always have had home and love for me. To the memory of my brother Stanislav. CEU eTD Collection v Acknowledgements I would not have reached far without the love, support, knowledge and encouragement of so many people I met and worked with in the last 5 years while preparing the thesis. I am indebted to my supervisor Prof. Alexios Antypas who trusted me even before knowing me well and guided me with careful hand in the trails and trials of this endeavour. Dr. Svetlozar Andreev gave me the larger perspective of academic thinking while stealing evening hours from his rest (and family) and directing the essence of the thesis in a fruitful path. Prof. Alan Watt and Prof. Ruben Mnatsakanian were very helpful with their critical insights at my prospectus and thesis defences. Dr. Richard Filcak was the invisible advisor who was telling me always on time simple truths about thesis writing. My fellow students Keti Medarova, Maia Gachechiladze, Farhad Mukhtarov, Katarina Korytarova, Zsofi Szi-Ferenc and Sergio Tirado found their best ways to lend me a hand and ideas in many difficult moments. My sincere gratitude goes to the Central European University and its founder – Mr. George Soros for the opportunity and financial support of the scholarship and grants to start and finish this thesis. Stamen Cholakov, Nasko Ganchev and my other colleagues from the law office in Sofia were generous hosts whenever I needed desk or tea in Sofia. Peter Rusev hosted me often in Sofia and we had so many good talks that fed me with artistic lightness and creative thoughts. Many people gave me their warmest spiritual support to keep my faith and find meaning of life beyond the vanity of the moment. I am thankful to Stanislav and Juliyan, to Ruslan and Rita, to Sasha and Arnold because they showed me reality of the love for your neighbour. The people I met in the Bulgarian municipalities where I did my case studies were the greatest discovery of the dissertation. The mayors of Dobrich - Mrs. Detelina Nikolova, of Teteven - Mr. Nikolay Pavlov and of Lukovit – Mr. Petar Ninchev were open-minded leaders who provided me with everything I asked for and had time to share their perspectives on environmental governance in Bulgarian municipalities. I am thankful to all people that spent hours with me telling me their stories and unearthing layers of facts, emotions and ideas that make municipalities what they are. People like Marian Alexiev, Tsanka Sabeva and Tsvetan Dimitrov in Teteven; Ivailo Ivanov and Ivan Pechev in Lukovit; Teodora Petkova, Hristo Vichev and Rosen Petrov in Dobrich, Hristo Stoev and Andrey Kovachev in Sofia and many others are the today and tomorrow of Bulgaria. They made me believe that talented people are everywhere, even in the smallest towns of Bulgaria and could be the change we all want to see shining after the