Brussels takes Bulgaria to court over wind turbines in protected area

The European Commission said on Thursday it is taking Bulgaria to court over its failure to protect unique habitats and important species, authorizing large numbers of wind turbines and other developments in a protected area.

Large numbers of wind turbines and other developments have been authorised in the Kaliakra region, a migratory route and resting place for highly endangered species, without adequate assessments of the environmental effects and the Commission is therefore taking Bulgaria to the EU Court of Justice., it said in a press release.

Under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, any project that may have a significant negative effect on sites that are part of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas should undergo a prior assessment before it is approved while Bulgaria has authorised thousands of wind turbines and some 500 other projects in the area without appropriate environmental impact assessment.

“Bulgaria has therefore failed to comply with a key requirement of the EU Habitats Directive, which obliges Member States to take appropriate measures to avoid the deterioration of habitats and disturbance of species for which the Nature 2000 sites have been designated, and compensate for any damage that occurs,” the Commission added.

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