David Hammerstein, Spanish member of the European Parliament (MEP), was “horrified and disappointed” by the destruction of the zones from Natura 2000 environmental network in Bulgaria, a media statement of the coalition To Sustain the Nature in Bulgaria (SNB) said on May 7.

Hammerstein visited Bulgaria on May 1-4, as previously reported by The Sofia Echo, becoming the third Green MEP to visit the country, after Margrete Auken and Gisela Kallenbach.

Natura 2000 was like a certificate and brand for cleanness and production quality of local entrepreneurs, he said during his visit to Bulgaria. “In Spain, Natura 2000 is as a lottery prise,” SNB's statement quoted him as saying.

Hammerstein visited some of the endangered areas in the country, including Rila Mountain, where the construction of a road and lift is breaching the law; Bulgaria's only rescue centre for wild animals near Stara Zagora; as well as the Black Sea coast, SNB said. Hammerstein observed the illegal construction of a holiday village in Strandja natural park’s Black Sea coast, Pomoriisko Lake, Irakli beach and Kamchiyski Pyassutsi, whose protected area statute was removed to enable construction of another holiday village.

In Spain, Natura 2000 often led to boosting the population of deserted areas, as the programme gives opportunities for development of biological agriculture, alternative and environmental forms of tourism and other activities connected to the maintenance of the wild nature, but also to making a living out of the zones. The same model could be applied in Bulgaria, but not for the massive construction underway in the country, which ignores area planning and infrastructure development, especially wastewater collection and treatment, according to the Spanish MEP.

At the end of his visit Hammerstein gave a news conference in Bulgaria’s biggest Black Sea city of Varna, saying he was categorically disappointed by the drastic violations and destruction of Natura 2000 zones. Hammerstein said he will present a detailed report of his visit to the EC directorates and commissioners for environment and internal order.

He said that all those violations of the European legislation would most probably lead to infringement procedures, lawsuits in the European Court of Justice, sanctions and cancellation of European funding.

“All this would be paid by us, the taxpayers, as it will not only cause us direct financial sanctions, but also irretrievable destruction of our unique nature, European funds stopping and most probably diverting funds towards projects, which serve illegal sites,” SNB said.