Commission warns Cyprus, Bulgaria over nature conservation, sues Spain

The European Commission is taking Spain to court for its failure to provide adequate protection for 174 Natura 2000 areas in the Canary Islands. Spain is now two years behind schedule in providing the necessary protection.
Separate warning letters for other nature cases are being sent to Cyprus and Bulgaria.
Sursa.

Lobbyists – the fifth power in the EU

Sofia. Transparency of political institutions is a prerequisite for legitimacy. It should be easy to scrutinize how decisions are made, what are the influences behind them and finally how resources, i.e. taxpayer’s money, are allocated. Therefore rules for lobbying are ultimately a question of legitimacy.
At the moment it is estimated that there are about 15000 lobbyists and 2500 lobby organisations in Brussels. Counting permanent visitors’ badges and “express”-badges there are approximately 5000 lobbyists operating in the European Parliament.
Lobbyists are the fifth power in the EU and one can easily guess what the reason for the siege of European institutions is - the EU dictates 80% of the legislation of its member states, in fields where numerous interests are involved – agriculture, international trade, telecommunication, food safety, transport etc, The Dnevnik comments.
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Bulgarian ecology organizations that brought illegal constructions over sites included in the Natura 2000 Sites for Nature Conservation list are among the examples of successful citizen lobbying.
If the Lisbon Treaty comes into force, the range of the European Parliament’s authority over the EU legislature will be broadened.

Sursa.

MEPs back Bulgarian environmentalists

At its last session in the current mandate the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament reviewed petitions regarding Natura 2000 in Bulgaria that had been submitted by Bulgarian citizens. The committee decided to send an insistent letter to EU Commissioner for Environment Stavros Dimas demanding no further delay in punitive procedures on the most urgent and severe cases. Besides, the Petitions Committee will ask the European Ombudsman to investigate the European Commission for its passive stance on offences in Bulgaria and for its slow reaction.

Sursa.

Yesterday, 30/4, ecologists held a "Last Waltz" demonstration in front of the ministry, trying to catch the ministers attention on the breaches against the Natura 2000 declaration for protection of the Bulgarian nature. A delegation has been sent to Bruxells, to raise attention from the European Union on the topic.

200 citizens participated in the protests on Wednesday against the prepared limitations on demonstrations.

Sursa.

EC expresses high opinion of Bulgaria’s work in area of environment

Brussels. The European Commission has expressed a high opinion of Bulgaria’s fulfillment of its commitments in the area of environment. This stance was voiced by European Commissioner for Environment Stavros Dimas at his meeting with Bulgarian Minister of Environment and Water Dzhevdet Chakarov in Brussels, the Ministry of Environment and Water announced.
The minister presented the work concerning setting up of NATURA 2000 network, issuing of permits for industrial companies, fulfillment of commitments in the field of waste management and implementation of operational program Environment.

Sursa.

Bulgaria: improbabilul ecologism de peste Dunare

Spre deosebire de Romania, in Bulgaria nemultumirea fata de poluare a fost unul din factorii care au contribuit, fie si partial, la caderea comunismului. Nemultumitii, adversarii regimului si ecologistii improvizati (acestia neconfundandu-se, dar gasindu-si temporar obiective comune) au format in anii ‘80 o grupare intitulata Ecoglasnost (de la "glasnost", termenul-cheie al deschiderii politico-economice initiate de Gorbaciov in URSS), grupare care s-a politizat si care a participat la zarva politica din octombrie si noiembrie 1989, aceasta incheindu-se cu rasturnarea dictatorului Todor Jivkov. Ecoglasnost era deja foarte activa in momentul in care in partea cealalta a Dunarii, in Romania, nimeni nu se ocupa de ecologie. Dupa caderea comunismului, Ecoglasnost s-a dizolvat incetul cu incetul, dar activitatile ecologice au continuat.

Sursa.

Bulgaria: The last zones of Natura 2000 delayed

Sofia. 10 birds areals featured in Natura 2000 have not yet been published in the State Gazette, which means delayed eco measures and hampered protection for the species in questions. The last bird areas have been endorsed by the incumbent Minister Chakarov back in April 2008. The law stipulates that all protected areas in the ecological network should be published within a year from their approval. The deadline for the first 88 bird zones was March 2008. Klasa Daily reports.

Sursa.

The EP to punish Bulgaria over ecology

The Petition committee in the European parliament will insist on a firm reaction of the European Commission on the problems in the investigated petitions, attacking violations of the ecologic legislature in Bulgaria.

Up to now despite the many problems, the Bulgarian government was only reproached for not keeping the European legislature in a number of spheres, but according to the deputies from the Committee more serious measures are needed for our country, money.bg announced.

We remind you that during its visit in the end of October the mission of the committee on Petitions in the European Parliament announced that it is "shocked by the systematic violations in the sphere of environment, which are being carried out in Bulgaria".

Deputies from the European Parliament will insist on the strictest and most urgent measures, which have to be taken by the Commission regarding the violation of the ecology legislature in Bulgaria.

On Tuesday the Petition committee has investigated again the information regarding the violation and inadequacy of NATURA 2000 network in Bulgaria. According to it the problems are very serious and their resolution must not be postponed.

Sursa.

Proteste pentru Natura 2000: Thousands of people gather for a protest (ROUNDUP)

Sofia. Students, environmentalists and farmers mounted a protest on Wednesday. The three groups unite their demands in one joint protest.
The students demand that a strategy for the higher education and scientific researches be drafted within 2 months. The strategy has to be worked out in collaboration with students, experts, employers and international organizations.
The environmentalists demand that the tabled amending and supplementing bill to Forestry Act be voted down and that the government impose moratorium on the construction works in the protected areas under NATURA 2000 until a national strategy for tourism development is worked out.

Tot articolul aici.

Proteste pentru Natura 2000: Bulgarian Demonstrators, Police Clash in Sofia

Sofia, Jan 14 (Prensa Latina) Some 1,000 students, farmers and environmentalists clashed against riot police on Wednesday as they demonstrated against government's policies in front of the Parliament.

After the clashes, which resulted in the arrests of 30 demonstrators and dozens of wounded, organizers announced more demonstrations on Thursday.

During the protests, the students demanded a national plan for the universities, the farmers called for more state subsidies and the environmentalists wanted the suspension of construction works in zones protected by the Natura 2000 program.

Tot articolul aici.