Select a project of interest on the map

Danube navigation project, Iron Gate–Silistra–Braila section

This project would remove 13 bottlenecks and intensify navigation on this section of the Trans-European transport corridor VII by ensuring a depth of two and half meters at all times. Deepening the river, regulating water flows, cutting side-arms and reinforcing riverbanks would irreversibly damage the Danube’s rich biodiversity and its ability to self-purify. The bottlenecks set for elimination are the last free-flowing and most precious stretches. The project will impact valuable island ecosystems – several of which are EU LIFE projects – and NATURA 2000 natural river banks in both Bulgaria and Romania.

Sofia waste management project

The project proposes construction of a landfill, small compost facilities and a mechanical-biological plant (MBT) that will produce refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for burning in distant cement kilns. The municipality is reluctant to invest in recycling facilities that could help increase poor recycling rates, and alternative advocated by NGOs – the ‘no-burn’ approach – has been neglected, putting Sofia at risk of missing the opportunity to achieve a sustainable, resource-efficient and long-term waste management system.

Ljulin motorway

The 19 kilometre Sofia – Pernik motorway, at nearly EUR 10 million per kilometre, is one of the most expensive roads in the EU, but its impact on traffic alleviation is suspect at best and even the Bulgarian government acknowledges that traffic will continue to grow. The existing bottlenecks on access roads leading to the motorway cross densely populated areas and bring noise, pollution and more traffic, causing local communities to protest.

Struma motorway through Kresna Gorge

The motorway endangers the Kresna Gorge, a unique valley in southwestern Bulgaria that is home to an extraordinarily high number of endemic and rare protected species like otter, tortoise, leopard snake and 17 bat species. An alternative solution that would avoid the gorge has not been pursued even though the 2007 environmental impact assessment recommended this. Other planned sections of the motorway have breached EU NATURA 2000 environmental legislation.