Ever since the Bulgarian Cabinet has been discussing the inclusion of territories in the European Natura 2000 network, nature lovers have been opposing investors on the issue.

To express their discontent with the involvement of economic interests in the process, 150 environmentalists marched in their pajamas in the centre of Sofia, International Herald Tribune (IHT) reported.

The list of territories to be included in the network failed gaining the approval of either group, the report said. Investors said their interests will be harmed because of nature protection restrictions, while environmentalists said more territories should be included in Natura 2000.

Environment had to be protected, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said. At the same time Bulgaria had to “guarantee the conditions for stable and quick economic development … in [Bulgaria’s] various regions,” he said.

Bulgaria is already late with submitting its Natura 2000 list. A country that fails tabling its suggestion in a timely manner faces EU sanctions, IHT reported.

The list includes nearly 20 per cent of the Bulgarian territory. The average for other EU countries remains nearly 15 per cent.

At the last moment, Cabinet decided to keep 32 terrains out of the network and take a decision later on. These areas form nearly four per cent of Bulgaria’s territory and are located mostly along the Black Sea coast and near ski resorts.