Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has referred to the Constitutional Court the new amendments to Bulgaria's Sea Act on grounds of a presumed violation of the public interest.

The new provisions of Bulgaria's Law on Maritime Spaces, Domestic Waterways and Ports became effective on March 19.

What has provoked the President's objection is a stipulation that a right to build port facilities can be granted by the state to private entities without a prior bidding or other form of contest.

What is more, this right to build can be constituted for an indefinite future, which according to the President's office is also objectionable.

Plevneliev has argued that Bulgaria's Constitution in particular stipulates that the sea coast is an area of exclusive public interest, and that the state must implement provisions adequate to that status.