Петицията за Рила в Европейския парламент

The Greens | European Free Alliance
in the European Parliament
PRESS RELEASE - Brussels, 8 May 2008

Natura 2000 Petition
Petition for the protection of the Rila mountain in Bulgaria signed by 145 872 EU citizens

Today a delegation of Bulgarian NGO's has submitted a letter to Commissioner Dimas on the violations of Natura 2000. The letter has been signed by 145 872 Bulgarians and other EU citizens.

The petition requests the protection and conservation of one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful and wild mountains – RILA. Rila is the highest mountain on the Balkan Peninsula. It is a National Park; part of NATURA 2000 network of protected territories, category II IUCN. The area is currently threatened by ongoing illegal construction of 8 ski resorts, this in violation of the 92/43/EEC Directive.

The petition was first presented to the EP in cooperation with several Green MEP's. Commenting on the action MEP's of the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament David Hammerstein and Els de Groen, said:

"Bulgaria can not be outside European environmental Law and inside the European Union. Ignoring European Law threatens the future of Bulgaria.

Bulgaria has committed itself to save the Rila mountain, not to shave it. The illegal logging must stop."

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