Bulgarian Minister of the Environment Neno Dimov has repealed an ordinance for the Kaliakra eco-zone that prompted protests yesterday and today in Balchik, Shabla and Kavarna. This was followed by an order of PM Boyko Borissov. Abut 11 AM the blockage of the road from Bulgarevo to Kaliakra was lifted and the protests ended after the news of the prime minister’s move to withdraw the ordinance spread.
The ordinance of the Ministry of Environment was meant to introduce a ban on agriculture, fishery and construction on land plots that are part of the Kaliakra protected area. On Friday protesters said that the ban would ruin the livelihood of the people in Black Sea Dobrudzha region.
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov plans to talk with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in connection with the sanctions that Bulgaria should incur after the withdrawal of the ordinance, the press service of the government said. Environmental Minister Neno Dimov is going to meet tomorrow with the mayors of the municipalities of Balchik, Shabla and Kavarna and with representatives of steering committees for a discussion of the situation. He is expected to invite the EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella to visit the region and hear different points of view.
In connection with the protests of the three Black Sea municipalities Minister Neno Dimov said that a bomb regarding Natura 2000 had been planted during the term of the three-party government coalition and time had tome for it to explode. On the same issue, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said the difficult situation was the result of shortsighted and wrong decisions made by the Sergei Stanishev cabinet. Back in 2006 the delineation of the zones in the Natura 2000 network was assigned to environmental groups rather than to research institutes. This has led to lawsuits against Bulgaria and the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union entailing an ordinance for the ban of construction, agricultural and fishery activities in the regions in question.
