Parliament passed at first reading the controversial amendments to the Forestry Act, which environmental organisations say will give ski resort companies free hand to expand construction in protected areas, on February 8.

The amendments passed with 74 votes in favour, including 72 from MPs for ruling party GERB. The amendments were drafted by the Cabinet and approved on December 28 2011.

One of the more controversial provisions would allow authorities to issue permits for the construction of lifts and ski runs on state land without changing the land's designation first. The same provision, considered when the Forestry Act was amended in early 2011, was dropped at the insistence of conservationist groups, who argued that this would give ski resort companies free hand to expand construction in protected areas.

Opposition parties and environmental protection NGOs argued that this and other provisions were the result of lobbyist pressure from ski resort operators, including Vitosha Ski, which refused to run ski lifts on Vitosha Mountain arguing that it could not legally operate its concession under the existing legislation.

GERB MPs defended the amendments on February 8, saying that the state would retain control because the land remained state-owned. Concerning criticism that the amendments did not regulate some issues, including how long would ski companies be allowed to use the land and how much they would be charged, GERB MPs, quoted by website dnevnik.bg, said that such oversights would be fixed before Parliament votes on the amendments at second reading.