Ministry of Environment appeals court refusal to stop Kronospan production

The Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) has announced its intention to appeal a decision by the Administrative Court in Burgas. The court denied a request for the preliminary enforcement of an order to halt a production line at the Kronospan Bulgaria facility in Veliko Tarnovo.

The dispute stems from an administrative measure imposed in January by the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water in Veliko Tarnovo, which ordered the suspension of a particleboard production line due to unpleasant odors reported by local residents. While the court acknowledged new citizen complaints, it ruled that the evidence provided was insufficient to definitively link the facility to the odors or to establish a public interest that outweighs the economic harm to the company.

The Ministry’s appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court will rely on environmental document analysis, witness testimonies, and the company’s own admission that its technological measures to limit emissions and odors are not 100% effective. Conversely, the court previously noted that halting production causes significant damage to the company regarding employment, contractual obligations, and industrial activity.