Dushana Zdravkova, elected to European Parliament on the Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) list, will file a petition with the European legislative body's committee on petitions, demanding more transparency on the proposed Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

The petition, on behalf of Bourgas residents, will also ask for guarantees that the project would pose no danger to the environment, GERB's branch in Bourgas said on January 30, as reported by mediapool.bg.

The European Parliament has already looked at similar cases, including the proposed Nord Stream gas pipeline project in the Baltic Sea, Zdravkova said.

"In December 2007, I witnessed citizens of Wales putting forward a petition on a similar case regarding the construction of a gas pipeline and a port near a settlement. The population of the region was seriously concerned about the possible damages, both to people's health and to the environment as a whole, and a big number of plaintiffs came to defend their rights. The municipal authorities and independent experts were called on and the EP took an active role in solving these problems,“ Zdravkova said.

The city of Bourgas will hold on February a local referendum on February 17, in which residents will be asked to vote in favour or against the oil pipeline passing through the municipality.