site.btaCourt Case of European Commission vs Bulgaria Ends with Ban on Further Construction in Kaliakra Area

Sofia, July 21 (BTA) - An EU court case of the European Commission versus Bulgaria ended with a ban on further construction activity in the Kaliakra area on the Bulgarian seacoast, the Environment and Water Ministry reported on Friday. The case had been opened in connection with the building of wind turbines in a protected area.

According to the press release, Environment and Water Minister Neno Dimov settled the matter with the European Commission in the best possible way for Bulgaria. He brought the arrangements to the notice of the mayors of Shabla and Kavarna and interested business people. After negotiations with the Commission, it was decided that Bulgaria does not have to remove the wind turbines, golf course, houses, hotels, holiday villages and infrastructure already built in the protected area. However, Minister Dimov is required to ban further construction there.

Bulgaria has until the end of September to prove that the existing part of a bird migration early warning system at Kaliakra is operational and to propose a timeframe for the system's completion while making sure that it encompasses all wind turbine operators concerned. This means that the wind turbines will have to be stopped during the bird migration periods.

The bird protection orders for the areas of Kaliakra, Belite Skali and Bilo must be revised to include the measures related to the bird migration early warning system and the protection of species and habitats.

A protected area called Kaliakra Complex is to be established. It will measure 483.4 square kilometres, including 437.3 sq km of sea.