Experts from the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and the Government drafted a Bill for the Black Sea Coast Act

Experts from the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and the Government drafted a Bill for the Black Sea Coast Act. This is the first regulatory provision in the Bulgarian legislation which regulates the procedure for use of sea-side beaches. The Bill also provides the extremely necessary definition of the concepts “coastal beach strip” and “seaside beach” and defines the scope of the public state ownership along the Black Sea coast. In accordance with the Bill two zones for physical planning protection will be set up along the Black Sea coast. Zone A encompasses the coastal beach strip and the public state ownership along the seaside and adjoining territories behind them which can reach up to 100 metres. Zone B encompasses a 2 km-wide zone of the coastline and the proposed law prohibits the construction of household waste disposal depots and other related facilities within that zone; there are other bans with reference to ecology, too. The bill prohibits construction in resorts, resort parts of settlements and vacation complexes between 1 May and 30 September. The Bill will be submitted for approval by the Council of Ministers in the beginning of July and before that it will be referred for coordination to ministries and public agencies. Comments, opinions, notes and recommendations on the Bill for the Black Sea Coast Act can be sent to Mr. Savin Kovachev – a Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Address: the MRDPW, 17-19, Kiril i Metodii Str., 1202 Sofia, Bulgaria; e-mail: SKovachev@mrrb.government.bg. PR & International Relations Directorate