The Environmental Impact Assessment of Lot 3.2 of the Struma Highway – the part through the Kresna Gorge is valid until May 23, 2023.

This is what lawyers say. The reason is that the EIA of "Struma" through Kresna is approved on 19. 10. 2017 and is generally valid for 5 years. However the decision was appealed to the court. The final instance, YOU, comes out with decision of 23.05.2018 rejecting the appeals. Then it actually begins the 5-year validity period of the EIA to run, "Eko News" reports.

Two days ago, the former Minister of the Environment Borislav Sandov stopped two procedures for the construction of the "Struma" section in The Kresna gorge on the grounds that the EIA expires in October, and the EC has requested new environmental assessment.

Eco News claims after consulting with experts that they have requested from Brussels Bulgaria to apply the methodology approved by the EC for determining the specific nature protection objectives for Natura 2000 protected areas, with a view to guaranteeing the protection of plant and animal species over time of road construction and operation.