The political council of Bulgaria’s ruling tripartite coalition approved a list of territories to be included in the European Natura 2000 environmental network.

Natura 2000 is a European environmental preservation network which includes territories in all EU members.

The council decided that 305 areas or 31.23 per cent of the country’s territory are to be included in the network, a Council of Ministers press release said.

The average area of other countries included in the network was 21.6 per cent, the press release said.

Previously Cabinet failed to approving the list of territories to be included in Natura. Inclusion in the network opposed the interests of ecologists to those of property owners and investors.

Cabinet postponed the decision for the end of January 2007. Natura 2000 introduction in Bulgaria is among the requirements for EU accession.

Once Bulgaria’s Cabinet determines the list of territories, it would have to co-ordinate the decision with the European Commission.

Owners of territories to be included in the network were to maintain their possession rights. Construction will be regulated, though a ban is not going to be imposed.