European Experts To Evaluate Projects In Bulgarias Potential Natura 2000 Areas

Representatives of the Environment Directorate- General of the European Commission will come to Bulgaria in connection to the introduction of the Natura 2000 environment preservation network.

Projects to be carried out in the potentially included areas will undergo environmental evaluation first, Environment and Water Affairs Ministry said.

EC representatives said that Natura 2000 does not aim to ban investment plans in the protected regions. Projects, however, have to receive environmental assessment.

Representatives of the Environment and Water Affairs Ministry, the EC and NGOs already visited national park Pirin. There, they discussed management of protected areas and the establishment of an ecological network in Bulgaria.

Earlier this month ecologists said that Bulgaria could face sanctions if it continued delaying the decision on Natura 2000 introduction. The EC could impose fines and limit the country’s access to union funds, investor.bg reported.