BG nature coalition: How EU Funds for Natura 2000 in Bulgaria were wasted

Bulgarian coalition of nature conservation NGOs raises alarm over the way EU and Bulgarian tax-payers money for nature are spent by Bulgarian authorities. 100 million Euros were allocated for the good management of the Bulgarian part of the Natura 2000, the European ecological network of conservation areas for the period 2014 – 2020. The main areas were good governance, improving conservation status of habitats and species and promotion of the network. Bulgarian network covers about one thirds of the country due to the rich biodiversity of the country.

Good intentions however were washed away as one third of the funds were transferred to another programme, and the rest were spent on measures with poor results or even harming nature.