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In the process of being banned in France and the western part of Europe, our old diesel cars are moving to the East, where they are beginning a second life. Bulgaria, in particular, has made a specialty of importing them. An extract from “Special Envoy” to Sofia, capital of this new Eldorado.
Near Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, Hassene sells used cars. It specializes in the import of vehicles from France. Most are diesels. “Firstly because the price of fuel is more attractive, and also because they are easier to repair, he justifies. And then, Bulgarians still prefer diesel to gasoline or electricity.” Eastern Europe as a whole does not seem ready for electric cars: in 2022, 98% of them will be sold in the West…
Bulgaria has the oldest car fleet in the European Union: 40% of cars are over 20 years old. Here, there is no ZFE (low emissions zone), diesels circulate freely. The consequence is that more and more cars banned in the West are heading to the East: for Bulgaria, but also Poland, Romania… even though these countries are part of the European Union. . Bulgaria has thus become the El Dorado of car sellers in the process of being banned. According to estimates from “Special Envoy”, between 100,000 and 150,000 cars from the West are sold there each year.
Sofia, the most polluted capital in Europe
With this old and mostly diesel vehicle fleet, Sofia holds the record for the most polluted capital in Europe. On the day of this filming, the journalists from “Envoyé Spécial” measured the level of fine particles: it is 33 μg/m3, or six times that recommended by the World Health Organization. Bulgaria has been condemned by the European Union for non-compliance with air quality regulations, but here, environmental protection is not a priority for the authorities.
This policy has serious repercussions on the health of residents: according to the European Environment Agency, breathing this air loaded with fine particles causes 14,000 deaths in Bulgaria each year. Proportionally, it is three and a half times more than in France.
Excerpt from “The Damned of Diesel”, a report to be seen in “Envoyéspecial” on October 5, 2023.
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