Kresna gorge

Bulgarian government wants to limit civil rights for the sake of EU funding

With new legislation, Bulgaria’s government is trying to limit inconvenient civil engagement in projects it deems strategic.

Tags: biodiversity civil rights infrastructure Jyrki Katainen Kresna gorge Struma motorway EU

Institution: EU Funds

Theme: Transport, Other harmful projects

Legal complaint lodged to save protected Bulgarian Gorge from destructive motorway

July 12, 2017

Brussels/Sofia, July 6th – A legal complaint submitted today to the European Commission by NGOs [1] alleges that the construction of a controversial EU-funded motorway is already breaking EU nature laws, and warns that completing the final section through Kresna Gorge nature reserve would be catastrophic for protected animals and plants in the region. [2] The complaint calls on the Commission to investigate breaches of EU law, and could result in the Bulgarian government being taken to the European Court of Justice, and hefty fines.

Institution: EU Funds

Theme: Transport

Tags: biodiversity, EU Habitats Directive, Kresna gorge, motorway, Natura 2000, EU

Illegal damage and threat of destruction of the Kresna Gorge, Bulgaria - full complaint

Official document | July 12, 2017

This complaint to the EU Commission was lodged to save the protected Bulgarian Kresna Gorge from a destructive motorway that received EU funding. It alleges that the construction of the controversial motorway is already breaking EU nature laws, and warns that completing the final section through Kresna Gorge nature reserve would be catastrophic for protected animals and plants in the region.

A summary of the complaint is available too. Download the summary.

Institution: EU Funds

Theme: Energy & climate

Illegal damage and threat of destruction of the Kresna Gorge, Bulgaria - complaint summary

Official document | July 6, 2017

This is a summary of a complaint to the EU Commission that was lodged to save the protected Bulgarian Kresna Gorge from a destructive motorway that received EU funding. It alleges that the construction of the controversial motorway is already breaking EU nature laws, and warns that completing the final section through Kresna Gorge nature reserve would be catastrophic for protected animals and plants in the region.

Institution: EU Funds

Theme: Transport