Position on the work of the interdepartmental working group for the implementation of the concession agreement for the Bansko Ski Zone

"Environmental organizations are the only ones who for 15 years has repeatedly approached all competent institutions of the executive, judicial and legislative authorities for violations in the implementation of the concession for the Bansko Ski Zone. We therefore welcome the creation of the working group and we expect the results of its work "environmentalists shared.

However, they insist on maximum transparency and appeal all documents from the work of the committee to be public and to be organized a public discussion at which interested parties to have the opportunity to ask questions of committee members. Such a request has already been submitted to the Environment Committee in the National Assembly and to the Minister of Environment and Waters.

The Eco-coalition expresses suspicion that part of responsible officials for this situation are members of the commission and the ministries will do everything possible to conceal their institutional responsibility and justify their inaction in the last 15 years.

The reason for this are the assertions that the dimness of the concession agreement emerged just after 2010. At that point, after surveying the area of the ski area, MEW announced that it improperly used area is 65 hectares over the agreement area. If an agreement is not clear, it should be known at an early stage of implementation, and not after he is almost fulfilled.

As a success for the Commission`s work can be adopted the provision of systematic information and documents for each ski lift, draglift, slope or building in Bansko Ski Zone, so that every citizen can assess their legality. This information should include the project area of the ski slopes, facilities and buildings, according to the provisions of the management plan for the national park and the concession agreement. Important is also their present area, according to the results of surveying measurements, commissioned by the Environment Ministry in 2010.

The Working Group is expected to answer the question whether all ski slopes, facilities and buildings in the ski area are provided in the concession agreement and are authorized and constructed in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act, the Biological Diversity Act and the Water Act. As evidence of legality and ownership right of the state over the facilities built under the concession agreement, the working group should submit acts for state ownership of these facilities.

"We are keen on this information being public before the Bulgarian society, because the documents on our disposal have revealed the attitude of the institutions to have an inclination to make excuses that the construction in Bansko Ski Zone, including without environmental assessments or outside the concession area, there is one or another document issued by the Municipality of Bansko or the National Construction Control Directorate. However, they deliberately fail to recognize that these documents were issued in the absence of environmental permits required for any construction in Bulgaria, "insists Toma Belev.

The deadline of the group work is 15 February 2015, when it will become clear whether there will be satisfied the demands of environmentalists or once again important decisions shall be taken behind closed doors and without the participation of civil society.