The General Directorate of "National Police," specifically the "Counteracting Crimes Affecting EU Financial Interests" sector, is investigating the implementation of the contract for the management plan of "Bulgarka" Park. The investigation is being carried out at the request of the European Public Prosecutor's Office.
This probe follows an April 2024 report alleging potential misuse of EU funds provided through the "Environment Operational Programme" (OPE). A total of 2.6 million BGN was allocated for the preparation of the plan, according to the specialized website Ekonovini.bg.
The plan was created by the "Bulgarka 2013" consortium, led by Toma Belev, a former Deputy Minister of Environment and Water and the current chairman of the "Green Movement" party.
Consortium Members:
- WWF Bulgaria, managed by Belev's wife, Veselina Kavrakova.
- Marseilla EOOD, a company 100% owned by WWF Bulgaria.
- Sterna Consult EOOD, owned by Valentina Fidanova, a political activist who, along with Belev, was part of the "Democratic Bulgaria" party's candidate lists in Plovdiv in 2001.
Sterna Consult EOOD is reportedly one of the favored companies in the biodiversity sector, winning numerous contracts and participating in high-value environmental projects through various associations and consortia.
Investigation of Irregularities:
The investigation seeks to determine how the Directorate of "Bulgarka" Park, specifically its former director Maya Radeva, awarded the contract to "Bulgarka 2013" and whether there were any violations in the process.
Key questions include:
- The nature of the relationship between Radeva and Belev.
- Why the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) declared the management plan for "Bulgarka" Park unlawful.
The SAC ruling, which is final, cites procedural violations and poor quality, raising questions about why the payment was still made to Belev's team.
Missing Plan and Financial Losses:
The SAC's decision effectively means that a management plan for "Bulgarka" Park does not exist, despite the 2.6 million BGN spent. This leaves EU and Bulgarian taxpayers' money irretrievably lost.
Economic police are also investigating potential conflicts of interest, as both Radeva and Belev are members of the private "Association of Parks in Bulgaria." The probe aims to uncover whether this relationship influenced Radeva's decision to award the contract to a consortium involving Belev.
Additional Evidence of Connections:
Just one month after Belev's appointment as Deputy Minister of Environment in February 2022, Radeva was appointed director of the Regional Environmental Inspectorate (RIEW) in Veliko Tarnovo.
Questionable Approval Process:
Despite the SAC ruling highlighting procedural flaws, the management plan was swiftly approved by the Council of Ministers only seven days after Belev's appointment. The proposal came from Environment Minister Borislav Sandov, also a green activist, under the government of Kiril Petkov.
This approval bypassed mandatory legal requirements, including a decision by the High Expert Environmental Council (HEEC) and the necessary environmental assessment of the plan.
Key Questions Remaining:
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Accountability for EU Funds:
Who will return the EU funds, given that the management plan does not exist? Will the "Bulgarka 2013" consortium be held responsible? -
Liability for Violations:
Who approved the unlawful plan, and will they face consequences?
The investigation also seeks to determine whether green activists will once again evade accountability while using EU funds to serve personal and corporate interests, as critics claim has happened before.
