EC Sends Bulgaria Final Warning over Industrial Permits

Politics » BULGARIA IN EU | January 29, 2009, Thursday // 00:00

Bulgaria is to receive a final written warning from the European Commission (EC) over the country's failure to issue complex permits for some of its operating industrial installations, the EC press center informs.

The European Commission had to take infringement action against 10 Member States for failing to issue new or updated permits. Denmark and Ireland have been sent first warning letters while eight others warned last May will now receive final written warnings. The permits should have been issued by 30 October 2007.

European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "It is unacceptable that industrial installations are operating without legal permits that ensure they minimise polluting emissions. These permitting procedures have been agreed by all Member States. To protect the health of our citizens and the environment they must be respected."

The directive required Member States by 30 October 2007 to issue new permits or review and update existing permits for all industrial installations that were in operation before 30 October 1999. For Bulgaria and Slovenia, new or updated permits had to be issued for industrial installations in operation by the date of their accession to the EU.

Data provided by Member States themselves show that 10 still have a high number of installations for which new or updated permits have not been issued. These total over 4,000 out of about 52,000 targeted industrial installations throughout the EU .

Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain had already been sent a first warning last May. They will now receive a final written warning, the last step before being taken to the European Court of Justice. Denmark and Ireland will receive first written warnings for the same reason.

The Bulgarian Environmental Ministry has issued a statement pointing out that the EC final warning does not include the complex permit for the troubled Bulgarian steel mill "Kremikovtsi".

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Bulgaria in EU » Be a reporter: Write and send your article

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria