EMERGENCY CALLS
The final two regional centres for the Europe-wide emergency number 112 started operation in Varna and Kurdjali on September 30. This brings the total to six centres across the country, with others in Sofia, Montana, Bourgas and Rousse. With the launch of the new centres, Bulgaria has met European Union requirements on introducing the emergency number, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Emergency Situations told The Sofia Echo.
FREE CO2 QUOTAS
The European Commission has approved Bulgaria’s national plan for distribution of free carbon dioxide quotas from 2007. The Environment Ministry started implementing the plan on September 26. The EC’s statement required the register to include only the emissions of companies that submitted verification reports for their work in 2007. Some that will not receive quotas for greenhouse gas emissions include Bulgaria’s largest steel producer Kremikovtzi, as well as Intertrust Kurdjali and a further nine smaller enterprises, which produce ceramics.
PET OWNERS PROTEST
About 100 people – accompanied by their pets – staged a silent protest in front of Ivan Vazov National Theatre in Sofia on September 28. They oppose new amendments to the Condominium Act, which foresee that people who want to keep pets would have to get permission from their next-door neighbours. Protest organisers, the civic group City for Responsible People, also raised a petition against the draft law’s clause about pets. On the day of the protest, they gathered 1800 signatures. Parliament is expected to vote on the second reading of the Condominium Act amendments this autumn.
CORRECTIONS
In The Sofia Echo of September 19, the article on page 10 contained an error, stating that Russia was energy-dependent on Western countries. This should have read the other way around. In the newspaper on September 26, the restaurant review photographs should have been credited to Chrissy Tahchieva. The errors, which occurred in the editing process, are regretted.
ECO TV
A new cable channel, VTV, that broadcasts environment programmes will be launched on October 3 2008, VTV manager Ani Lincheva told The Sofia Echo on September 30. VTV will broadcast programmes, news and even a morning talk show exclusively on environmental themes. It will be shown by all cable services in Bulgaria. VTV is a member of the digital Bulgarian television called ITV Partners and will also be accessible online at Neterra.tv.
CLOSED RING ROAD
For the first 16 days of October, entering the section of the Sofia ring road between Cherni Vruh and Kliment Ohridski boulevards is banned, city hall said in a statement. The ban is linked to reconstruction and expansion of the ring road. Only vehicles working on the repairs may drive there.
TRADE REGULATIONS
Companies breaking Sofia’s trade regulations may be obliged to pay fines of up to 10 000 leva. The city’s deputy mayor in charge of finance and economy Minko Gerdjikov has proposed amendments to the city’s trade regulations, which include higher fines. Dealers selling banned or hazardous goods will face the highest penalties. Pubs, bars and shops violating noise regulations will face fines between 300 to 10 000 leva. Currently, the highest fine is 500 leva. Another amendment will control the issuing of permits for putting tables, chairs, stands and display refrigerators in front of shops and in public places.
SUING THE CITY HALL
Taxi drivers in Shoumen, a city of more than 100 000 people in north-western Bulgaria, threatened to take court action against the municipality because of the poor condition of the roads. The statement came after a taxi fell into a large pothole and the airbag injured the driver’s arm. The streets in Shoumen neighbourhoods and industrial zones are riddled with potholes, private broadcaster Nova Televizia reported on September 28. If the case reaches court, it would not be the first of its kind in the city. In 2006 a cyclist won a court action against the municipality after he fell into a large pothole.
