Bulgarian NGOs Approach EC over Lack of Oversight of Small Hydropower Plants

The European Commission may open an infringement procedure against Bulgaria due to the lack of oversight of small hydropower plants, according to WWF-Bulgaria.

A number of Bulgarian environmental organizations, including WWF-Bulgaria, angling clubs, and the Bulgarian Kayak Society, have submitted two complaints with the EC over systematic breaches of the rules for the operation of small hydropower plants.

The claimants have provided examples of dry riverbeds and damage to river ecosystems caused by hydropower plants, according to reports of mediapool.bg.

The initiators of the complaints insist that three EU Directives have been breached, including the Habitats Directive, the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive, and the Water Framework Directive.

Environmentalists urge Bulgarian nationals to send photos or videos documenting damage caused by hydropower plants.

The initiators of the two complaints say that scores of lawsuits at Bulgarian courts have failed to bring any progress in terms of observance of legal provisions, adding that this has caused them to address EU institutions.