Bulgaria's Parliament is to consider at second reading amendments to the Spatial Planning Act envisaging an amnesty for illegal construction completed in the period 1987-2001.

The amendments will allow people who missed the period between 2001 and 2003 to get a certificate of tolerance for illegally constructed buildings from the respective municipality, thereby legalizing the site.

Lyuben Tatarski, Committee on Regional Policy and Local Self Government, explained Thursday that the idea was to provide an opportunity for amnesty of illegal construction built in the period 1987-2001.

Tatarski, as cited by Darik radio, noted that there were illegal buildings all over the country, adding that "if the amendments had not become a fact, half of Bulgaria would have had to be demolished."

This will be the second amnesty on illegal construction, the first one granted in 2001 and staying in force until mid-2003.

By mid-2003, all who had failed to legalize illicit buildings or reconstructions completed by April 7, 1987, were given the opportunity to get a tolerance certificate.

The latest amendments provide the same opportunity for illegal constructions built by March 31, 2001 when the Spatial Planning Act went into effect.

The change will stay in force for 12 months from the amendments' entry into force.

The transitional and final provisions stipulate that the amendments enter into force 3 months after their promulgation into the State Gazette, which is expected to happen next week.

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