Critical amendments to GERB and DPS fell through in parliament

GERB-SDS and DPS failed to push through a crack changes in the Environmental Protection Act, which aims to eliminate two court appeals over decisions affecting large infrastructure projects. They were introduced by MPs Delyan Dobrev and Stanislav Anastasov. However, they met the resistance of the PP-DB, “Vazrazhdane” and the independent deputies, who managed to stop the quorum in the plenary hall today and prevent the adoption of the changes in the first reading.

This is another attempt to prevent the ability to challenge state decisions in court that could harm the environment and human health. In April this year the Dobrev-Anastasov tandem quickly and secretly tried to push through similar changes in as many as three laws, through the interim and final provisions of the Investment Promotion Law. Then their action failedafter President Rumen Radev banned it, which was supported by the majority of PP-DB, “Vazrazhdane”, BSP and ITN in the full hall.

Now Dobrev-Anastasov, with the support of Nikolay Nankov from GERB-SDS, introduced amendments to the Law on Environmental Protection, for which warning by “Green Movement”. With the changes, it is recommended that when appealing the decisions of state institutions related to the construction of objects of national importance and objects of strategic importance, this should only be done in the first instance court Therefore, the previous ability to appeal to the Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) is no longer available.

These changes were introduced on August 8, and on the same day they quickly passed through the parliamentary committee on the environment, which is led in detail by Anastasov. The day before, he and his colleague Dobrev passed (in the first and second reading – note) amendments to the Safe Use of Nuclear Energy Actby which nuclear power plant projects are designated as items of national importance to receive several forms of assistance for their implementation, including eliminating the possibility of being challenged in two court cases.

Today, he explained to his colleagues that the change will help all kinds of projects – both the construction of nuclear power plants and highways and river routes, and in general everything co- linked to European transport corridors. According to him, the aim of the importers is for Bulgaria to be able to “move European money quickly”. Lyuben Dilov from GERB-SDS suddenly said that the two-case judicial control “is at the heart of the violent green racket that is used over the big infrastructure projects”.

FATHER

The first to oppose was Krasimira Katincharova, an independent MP who until recently belonged to the Velichie disbanded group. She recalled Dobrev-Anastasov’s failed attempt to push these changes through the Investment Promotion Law and pointed out that abolishing the two-issue procedure is against the Constitution, which protects the right of citizens to a healthy and favorable environment, as well as the opportunity. to protect this right through the court.

Iskra Mihailova from “Vazrazhdane” pointed out that the draft law has not been submitted for consideration either to the parliamentary committee on power (which is headed by Delyan Dobrev – note above) or to the committee on regional policy, although it is under portfolios of the group. both. She believes that these changes should be left for the next National Assembly, which should think differently – not to abolish the cassation situation, but until the time in which the High Court making decisions on such cases to be shortened.

PP-DB’s Ivan Belchev described Dobrev-Anastasov’s proposals as a serious restriction on citizens’ rights and environmental care. He pointed out that these are investment projects of high social importance and, instead of limiting the rights of citizens, they should be expanded, as well as the number of situations that can check the validity of the decisions made to do According to him, the delegates from GERB-SDS and DPS want to move everything to a fast track, which is dangerous because it weakens the means to control the implementation of infrastructure items that may create serious risks to the environment.

His colleague Nadezhda Yordanova said that there are currently different definitions in the legislation for something that is of national importance. This mish-mash, as he called it, must be cleaned up before the proposed changes can be considered.

PROTECTION

The bill was actively defended by the ITN. The deputy leader of the party, Toshko Yordanov, said that the changes will allow large infrastructure projects to be implemented. According to him, this is not happening now because “competing companies and bogus environmental groups” are taking advantage of the two-way application to delay the projects.

Stranger was the argument for the bill by the deputy chairman of the DPS Yordan Tsonev, who intervened on his theological education in the subject. From the rostrum of the parliament, Tsonev developed the thesis that the environment was created for man to serve him, and man was created to rule over nature, but in a way to protect it. This, in his words, is set down in God’s law, which is more perfect than man’s law. “I claim that if we are guided by God’s justice and God’s law, we must maintain the balance, and the balance is broken,” continued Tsonev. To eliminate this imbalance, he believes, it is necessary to find a solution in which investment resolution does not sit for years on state institutions.Krasimira Katincharova says uncertainly that such considerations fall more into the realm of esoteric Christianity than in public interests.

To ensure that GERB-SDS and DPS do not ask for the quick adoption of the bill today in the first and second reading, Vazrazhdane and PP-DB have clearly stated that they will make proposals for changes before the second their vote. It remains to be seen whether this will be achieved in the short time left in the current parliament.

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