Brussels, 11.09.2003
ENV E.1/JPA/pt
CAB A (03) 22068 D(03) 611523
Ms Slavena ARSOVA
e-mail: ik_lyulin@abv.bg

Dear Mrs. Slavena Arsova,

Thank you for your e-mail of 19 August and attached petition, regarding the project Lyulin motorway, which Commissioner Wallstrom has asked me to reply.

As you are well aware, the Commission has insisted all along that all the necessary steps are taken to comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure for this project. To that effect, the Commission has encouraged the Bulgarian Roads Executive Agency to start a new EIA procedure to comply in particular with the public consultation requirements.

Indeed, the Roads Executive Agency has informed the Commission that it was going to take such necessary steps and that new consultations were (tentatively) scheduled to take place by end of August, following preparatory discussions with relevant stakeholders. Thus, we believe that you will soon have an opportunity to raise the more substantive issues, to which you refer in your e-mail, during these public consultation meetings (in case you have not already done so).

In any case, I can assure you that the Commission will be monitoring this procedure and will require evidence that the public consultation has been done and that the authorities have given due consideration to the decisions arising from the public discussions.

I would like to thank you for the continuing interest you have shown in this project and in particular your efforts to support the involvement of civil society in the development and application of environmental policy in Bulgaria.

Yours sincerely,

Soledad BLANCO
Head of Unit