EC opens new infringement case against Bulgaria on renewable energy permits
The European Commission said on September 26 that it opened a new infringement case against Bulgaria for failing to comply with EU rules meant to simplify permitting procedures for renewable energy projects.
The announcement, made as part of the Commission’s latest infringements package, said that Bulgaria was among 26 member states that have failed to communicate the transposition of the revised Renewable Energy Directive before the July 1 deadline.
The EC said that the revised directive includes measures to simplify and accelerate permitting procedures both for renewable energy projects and for the necessary infrastructure projects to integrate the additional renewable energy into the electricity system.
“They also include clear time limits for permit-granting procedures targeted to specific technologies or types of projects, the strengthening of the role of the single contact point for applications and the presumption that renewable energy projects and the related grid infrastructure are of overriding public interest,” the EC said.
The Commission’s letter of formal notice gives Bulgaria two months to respond, or the EC could escalate the case by sending a reasoned opinion, the second stage in the infringement proceedings.
(Entrance to the Berlaymont building, headquarters of the European Commission. Photo: EU Audiovisual Service)
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