Ecological organisations, municipal representatives, property owners, and organisations protesting against the introduction of Natura 2000 met on February 5 to discuss the European network in Bulgaria.

The coming week Council of Ministers will receive the Environment and Water Affairs Ministry’s suggested plan for inclusion in Natura 2000.

Bulgaria had to take a decision by the end of 2006 but the EU allowed a delay. In case Bulgaria fails meeting the environmental requirement this time it could lose EU funding.

Participants in the talks discussed land ownership, the manner in which the protected areas will be determined and the funding of their designation as protected regions, Focus news agency reported.

Environment and Water Affairs Minister Djevdet Chakurov said that Bulgaria had to preserve its nature and at the same time offer businesses good investment opportunities.

Chakurov said that the introduction of the network will not change land ownership and construction in the protected areas will be allowed.

“My expectations are that after the entry of territories in Natura 2000 their prices will increase. It is wiser to refrain from selling land,” said Chakurov.

Representatives of parliamentary opposition parties said that they will ask from the Prosecution information on the manner in which Bulgaria’s Natura 2000 terrains were selected.

The Environment and Water Affairs Minister had a final say on the list of terrains, which was against the interests of Bulgarians, opposition parties said.

Municipal authorities said that the discussion failed clarifying issues. The summit was organised to meet expectations of a civil debate but no new information was presented, they said.

Ecological organisations said that Bulgaria was the European country with second highest bio-diversity after Spain. The network was going to protect areas of national and European importance, they said.