Six Bulgarian eco-organizations and the global environment conservation organization WWF have lodged a complaint against the Bulgarian government with the European Commission.

The reason that triggered this action is that the cabinet did not introduce a full list of if the Bulgarian territories included in the NATURA 2000 network, the eco-activists claim.

The lodged complaint now gives the right to the European Commission to initiate punishment procedures against the Bulgarian government.

The official list that Bulgaria's cabinet sent to the EC, in compliance with the Habitats Directive contains only 180 locations proposed for inclusion in NATURA 2000, which cover only 13% of the country's territory. Originally the National Biodiversity Council approved 225 potential zones, which cover 28.6% of the country's territory.

The areas, which have to be included in the NATURA 2000, turned into the apple of discord of the environmentalists in the country and Bulgaria's government. For a couple of months in a row the eco-activists stage protests every Thursday, finding every time new and original ways to speak their minds.

Bulgarian eco-activists have artistically presented the process of trading the lots of the protected areas on a canvas placed in front of the Council of Ministers building. File photo by Nadya Kotseva (Sofia Photo Agency)

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