To: "Ljulin" Initiative Committee

Subject: ISPA Project No 2001 BG 16 P PT 004 - Ljulin Motorway

Dear Madam / Sirs, Thank you for your letter on 3 November, received by e-mail with several enclosures, concerning the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried out by the Bulgarian authorities in connection with the above mentioned project.

I have taken note of the points you have raised and will be considering these with the inputs in our assessment of the fulfillment of the conditions of the ISPA financing memorandum relating to the project.

Nevertheless I should stress that it is for the appropriate Bulgarian authorities to decide on the precise alignment for a particular road project, and to consider all the evidence and submissions from affected parties, when taking such decision. The Commission's role is to monitor this process and to try to ensure that public consultation procedures are carried out in accordance with the principles of the EIA directives especially as concerns the provision of information and participation of the public and environmental organizations.

As you may be aware the question of the EIA and public hearings was discussed at the last ISPA monitoring committee meeting which was held in Plovdiv on 20 November. A representative of the NGOs raised the same concerns as those expressed in your letter during the course of the discussion on the Ljulin Motorway project.

In response to the statement from the NGO representative and the Commission's request for clarification the Bulgarian authorities undertook at the meeting to provide a full explanation of the EIA procedure followed. The Commission request that this include the views of all relevant authorities, in particular those of the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment.

The Commission will carefully consider the response of the Bulgarian authorities before deciding on the next step.

Your sincerely,

CC: Mrs. S. Blanco, DG Environment