site.btaSupreme Administrative Court Repeals Cabinet's Decision to Adopt Pirin National Park Management Plan

Sofia, July 30 (BTA) - The Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) has repealed Cabinet's decision for the adoption of the Management Plan for Pirin National Park, SAC reported on Monday.

According to the Court, when Cabinet made the decision, the Environmental Protection Act and Biological Diversity Act were violated. The judges note in their decision that the Protected Areas Act explicitly says that nature protection prevails over the other activities in them. In addition to that, there was no environmental impact assessment, as required for construction plans, programmes and investment proposals, activities and technology or changes therein, whose implementation might lead to a significant impact on the environment.

The three-member panel also believes that the administrative act does not comply with the main goal of the Protected Areas Act, which is precisely to protect and preserve protected areas as a national and universal human wealth.

The Court's decision is appealable before a five-member panel.