Public hearings took place in Godetch municipality on the morning of March 26 regarding forthcoming projects within the protected zones of Ponor and Rayanovtsi. The sites in question are subject to protection in accordance with the Birds Directive and the Natura 2000 environmental network, Bulgarian environmental website Bluelink.net reported.

Experts from the Sofia Regional Inspectorate on Environment and Waters informed interested parties  about restrictions and protected species in the zones stipulated in the draft projects.

Public hearings on Rayanovtsi zone will also take place on March 27 at 10am in Dragoman municipality building and at 2pm in Slivnitsa city hall on March 28 at 10.30am in Svoge municipality building and on April 2 at 10.30am in Kostinbrod city hall.

Another Natura 2000 draft project - on Ribarnitsi Chelopechene (Chelopechene Fishponds) protected zone - will be discussed on April 2 at 2pm in BKS-Kremikovtzi building in Kremikovtsi region. The environmental bodies invite all interested parties to attend discussions, express opinions and submit proposals.

Meanwhile, the European Commission (EC) is discussing new penalty procedures against Bulgaria for incorrect implementation of three directives concerning Natura 2000 network, Bulgarian language daily Dnevnik reported on March 25.

Directorate-General Environment uncovered several violations of EC Habitats and Birds Directives: Bulgaria has not presented a full list of Natura 2000 protected zones and some economical activities in those zones have been allowed.