site.btaGreenpeace Bulgaria and For the Earth File Complaint with EC over Violations at Four Coal Plants

Greenpeace – Bulgaria and For the Earth have filed a complaint with the European Commission over longstanding violations by four coal power plants: Bobov Dol in Golemo Selo, Brikel in Galabovo, Republika in Pernik, and Maritsa 3 in Dimitrovgrad. The violations span a six-year period — from 2018 to 2023.

The complaint concerns breaches of European legislation related to the way Bulgarian institutions have handled the operations of these plants, said Meglena Antonova, Director of Greenpeace Bulgaria, in a statement to BTA on Tuesday. She added that the information referenced in the complaint has been collected over a period of more than 10 years.

“We observe violations of European legislation in the issuance of complex permits, and in whether these permits are being enforced by Bulgarian institutions — namely the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Executive Environment Agency, and the Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Water,” Antonova noted.

According to environmental activists, the institutions issue permits to habitual polluters, fail to sanction them proportionately and effectively to prevent future harm, and turn a blind eye to immediate threats to public health during instances of heavy air pollution.

“We expect the European Commission to initiate communication with the Bulgarian institutions and, if it deems appropriate, to launch an infringement procedure that would convince the Bulgarian authorities of the need to comply with environmental legislation,” Antonova added.