Bulgarian environmental organisations have once again complained to the European Commission directorate-general for environment over the Government's lack of protection of the Emine-Irakli area on the Black Sea coast, which is included in the Natura 2000 network, Balkani Wildlife Society managing board member Andrey Kovatchev told The Sofia Echo on March 24.

Natura 2000 is European environmental zone of protected territories that is obligatory for implementation in all European Union member states. Kovatchev, a member of To Sustain the Nature in Bulgaria coalition of NGOs, is one of the experts working on its development in Bulgaria.

The latest complaint is about the cutting of trees in the Vaya River valley and the construction of a holiday village started by the Swiss company Swiss Properties in that area. Despite the ban imposed by the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Waters at the beginning of February, the company did not cease construction.

Bulgarian environmentalists sent the EC about 25 pages of detailed information on the violations of the EU Habitats Directive 94/43 and Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, and the Bern Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats, as well as a series of photographs documenting the situation before and after the start of construction.

"What we expect now is that the EC informs our government that if it does not protect the Natura 2000 zone Emine-Irakli, the commission will start a penalty procedure," Kovatchev said. The state should also re-cultivate the damaged valley of Vaya River, he added.

"This is the first time the coalition sent a claim about lack of protection of a Natura 2000 zone to EC," Kovatchev said. Previous complaints have been on illegal construction and delays in the implementation of Natura 2000 network.