Today, in the vote at first reading, the National Assembly approved the amendments to the Environmental Protection Act proposed by the Ministry of Environment and Water. The new texts were adopted by members of parliament with 127 votes in favor, 13 abstentions and none against.

These changes will rectify inconsistencies in the transposition of three European directives: on environmental impact assessment of some public and private projects; on emissions by industry in relation with integrated pollution prevention and control; on control of major accident hazards involving hazardous substances.

The successful closure of three infringement procedures, which are currently in the final stages before referring to the Court of Justice of the European Union, depends on the priority adoption of the new texts. “With the new texts, these procedures can be resolved within half a year, so that Bulgaria does not go to court,” said the Minister of Environment and Water Borislav Sandov, who presented arguments in support of the amendments during the parliamentary plenary debate.

The amendments restore the decision-making procedure by two institutions in cases of appeals against decisions on environmental assessments and environmental impact assessment decisions for sites of national and strategic importance. The change is in line with the requirements of the European Union and the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.

Responding to statements by members of parliament that the two-institutional proceedings would slow down the investment process, Minister Sandov defended the proposed changes as follows: No project delayed by a two-institutional procedure has been brought to my knowledge. The EIA is the only instrument in which society has the opportunity to express its views and defend its right of access to justice when it is directly affected - such as human health. The evaluation is carried out at an early stage, it is not the last resort and is not done in the end, when everything else is ready so as to delay a project,” said the Minister and called on MPs not to make suggestions in this direction.

MPs decided to increase the period for submission of amendments to the proposed texts between the first and the second reading from 7 and 14 days.