NEW SANCTIONS EXPECTED

A Bulgarian ecological organization informed the European Commission about scandalous swaps of property as result of which the energy boss Christo Kovachky has acquired s formerly state owned forests in Rila Mountain at prices 24 times lower than the market prices. These forests have been included in the regulation plan of the new ski resort Iskrovete-Govedartsy-Maliovitsa. The administraste of the State Agency for the Forests have accepted that the Rila forests should sell to Kovachky for 5 levs (2.50 Euros) per square metre, while at the same time the market price is 120 levs (60 Euros) per square metre. According to the ecologists, the agency has not protected the interest of the state and has not adhered to several EU directives by not making the necessary evaluation of the plans for the new ski resort and its suitability. The new ski slopes and lifts will cut deeply in the National Park Rila. Brussels has launched sanctions procedure against Bulgaria for illegal construction in the national park.