Bulgaria will submit the list of territories to be included in the European Natura 2000 environmental network this week or by the middle of the coming week.

The preliminary decision has to be submitted to the European Commission, Bulgarian National Radio reported.

Environment and Water Affairs Minister Djevdet Chakurov said that the plan envisions the inclusion of 20 per cent of the country’s territory in the network.

Bulgaria will do everything possible to avoid the introduction of sanctions related to submitting Natura 2000 documents too late, Chakurov said.

Failure to submit the plan earlier resulted from the opposing views on the introduction of the network. Environmentalists demanded maximum inclusion. Businesses and municipalities called for moderate measures that will not harm investment plans.

Chakurov also said that Bulgaria is ready to present projects related to environmental protection worth more than a billion euro.

The country will apply for funding for these projects from the various European programmes, Chakurov said.