The state, represented by the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water (RIEW) – Varna, missed out on nearly BGN 13 million for the protection of protected areas in the municipality of Kavarna. European funds for the approved project “Improving the conservation status of steppe natural habitat 62СО in the Kaliakra Complex protected area through land purchase” were not used for this purpose. The beneficiary of the project, with a total value of BGN 13.430 million, is RIEW-Varna. 85% of the amount was provided by the European Union for the 2014-2020 programming period, and 15% was national co-financing.
The main activity under the project is the purchase by the state of properties in protected areas in the municipality of Kavarna for the purpose of their conservation. Over BGN 12.5 million has been allocated to compensate the owners of around 500 properties falling within the Natura 2000 network. Despite the limited information campaign, 203 properties with a total area of nearly 235 decares have been put up for sale by their owners. Of these, 180 covering an area of nearly 200 decares have been approved. Most of them – 171 – are located in the village of Bozhurets, where part of the Pontic-Sarmatian steppes are located.
However, not a single decare has been purchased and paid for, according to a check by Ecovarna.info. The reason given by the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water is “the deadline for payment expired before the documents were submitted to the Council of Ministers for decision-making.” Although the main objective of the project has not been achieved, money has been spent on market valuations of the properties. A total of BGN 142,800 has been allocated for this activity. Even if the procedure is continued in the programming period until 2027, as claimed by the Ministry of Environment and Water (MEW), the market valuations made by 2023 will no longer be relevant. Separately, nearly half a million leva, outside the main activities – for administrative and auxiliary activities – also have an unclear direction. The MEW did not provide information on the financial report, the total unspent amount for the project, or the movement of unspent funds, even though it was requested under the Access to Public Information Act. The only specific response that the Public Center for Environment and Sustainable Development received was that “there are no pending criminal proceedings in connection with the implementation of the project.”
Neither the Habitats Directive nor European legislation introduces an obligation to purchase land for the purpose of improving the condition of habitats. This is left to the discretion of the Member States, according to the Ministry of Environment and Water.
On the other hand, it is already clear that the draft General Development Plan of the Municipality of Kavarna ‘will have a serious cumulative effect on the flora and fauna in the protected area.’ The investment proposals threaten nearly 9.4% of the area’s territory – more than 2,800 decares located in the municipality of Kavarna, according to the project’s environmental assessment. Nearly 900 decares have already been approved, and the plan proposes another 2,100 decares for urbanisation. The environmental assessment predicts a negative impact on dozens of protected animal species – amphibians, reptiles, mammals and over 20 species of birds protected by European directives.
The Public Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development sent a statement to the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the Ministry of Tourism, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment and the Municipality of Kavarna, objecting to the proposed draft of the OUP.
