The Road Infrastructure Agency Will Appeal the Decisions Made by the Minister of Environment and Water Borislav Sandov on 1st of August 2022 Related to the Implementation of the Struma Highway through the Kresna Gorge - lot 8.2.

Please note that an EIA decision No 3-3 / 2017, which approved the implementation of the Struma highway Lot 3.2 was issued by the Minister of Environment and Water on the relevant statutory order.

Since then, Road Infrastructure Agency works in a close cooperation with all state institutions relevant to the project, because for the successful implementation of a complex strategic infrastructure subject to the state, what the section between the Kripnik and Kresna is, what matters the most is the opinion of specialists from different directions.

For the Lot 3.2 section of Struma, by decision of EIA № 3-3 / 2017, an "Eastern G10,50" option has been approved under a pre-investment study from 2016.

It provides the right lane in the direction of the tower to be the existing way in the gorge, which will be rehabilitated, and the left lane in Sofia, with a gauge 10.50, be in the east direction from the gorge.

A crucial advantage of "Eastern Option G10.50" is the one-way traffic of vehicles, which will significantly reduce traffic in the gorge and the risk of incidents. The measures taken to protect human life as well as animal species in the area will significantly improve the current situation.

Another advantage of this option is the significant flexibility in the operation of the section, which is currently missing.

In the case of incidents, accidents, natural disasters or other events affecting one lane, the trafic can be immediately redirected to the other. This will allow a quick and safe reaction of the institutions, as well as will reduce the difficulties and delays of traffic during this time.

In the position of the MoEW that serves to coordinate the environmental assessment of the Transport Connectivity Program 2021-2027, there is information about the infrastructure subject to the implementation of the project and the conditions for the implementation of the Lot 3.2 project of Struma.

The conditions require additional assessment of alternatives and opportunities for construction of two Lat 3-route 3.2 of Struma Str. - 10th and G20, including the specific conservation objectives and the measures for the Kresna - Ilinden and Kresna Protected Areas in strict implementation of the European Commission's recommendations.

In order to make this additional assessment, the objectives of the two protected areas affected by the project must be determined and adopted by the MoEW.

Unfortunately, for more than two years, they have not been approved by the ecomerism and this prevents APA to make an analysis to respond to the EC recommendations on the application formulation. The commitments made to the EC can not be fulfilled in order to implement biodiversity conservation measures, given the judgment of 1 August 2022.

The letter received on 27 July 2022 EC clearly stated that the definition of specific conservation objectives for the protected areas affected by the project is the main one that Bulgaria should do.

It is stated that, after the objectives are defined and adopted, the project compliance assessment should be revised.

The Road Infrastructure Agency has not stopped searching for ways to improve and operate the documentation to meet all EC recommendations.

RIA has never seized seeking dialogue with all stakeholders to find consensus solutions for the project to be implemented in the most environmentally friendly way, in line with the requirements of European and national legislation.