'For the Nature in Bulgaria' Coalition and Minister Ivelina Vasileva discussed assessment of EU environmental legislation

Boyko Malinov, Deputy Minister of Environment and Water, and Miroslav Kalugerov, head of the National Nature Protection Service attended the meeting. Representatives of “For the Nature in Bulgaria” were Toma Belev, Lyubomir Kostadinov, Stefan Avramov and Irina Mateeva.

The representatives of the coalition stated their position that the EU nature conservation directives are among the most promising and successful policies for nature conservation in the world. Natura 2000 provides enough flexibility for sustainable economic development and at the same time is a working tool for successful environmental protection and exceptional efficiency, when fully implemented. This opinion has been supported by academics, farmers and representatives of other interested parties at a meeting organized by “Green laws” Initiative.

Minister Vassileva confirmed that the framework and objectives of the European Directives for Natura should not change. The directives set the goals for the member states, which are flexible in implementation through the national legislation, as well as the guidelines of the European Commission and their effective implementation. The Minister stated that the Ministry of Environment and Water supports further improvement of the directives' implementation and not their opening for changes.
We would like to point out that nine EU member states have advocated for protection of the environmental legislation in a common position. They point out that the main problem is not the directives, but rather their implementation. Minister Vassileva explained that Bulgaria has not been invited to join the common position, however the country does not oppose the statements made in the official letter.

The parties who took part in the meeting agreed that the preview of the European Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, which was published last month by the European Commission and shows the continuing loss of biodiversity, proves the need of stronger support for Natura 2000. The Ministry is going to organize a meeting with representatives of the public in early December 2015 to discuss the implementation of the environmental legislation and to presented the results of the EU conference, scheduled for November 20 in Brussels. The European Commission is expected to announce the results of the public consultations, which are part of the process of assessment of the adequacy (Fitness Check study) of the Natura 2000 directives.
The Ministry of Environment and Water and NGOs will continue their dialogue in order to improve the effective implementation of the environmental legislation