Complaint to the European Commission over long-standing violations by four coal-fired power plants

In September 2025, Greenpeace Bulgaria and Za Zemiata submitted a formal complaint to the European Commission, accusing Bulgarian authorities of systematically failing to enforce EU and national environmental law against four coal plants linked to businessman Hristo Kovachki: Bobov Dol TPP, Brikel, Republika, and Maritsa 3.

According to the complaint, between 2018 and 2023 Bulgarian regulators repeatedly ignored, downplayed, or failed to sanction chronic air-pollution violations. Environmental permits were allegedly renewed or amended without ensuring compliance with EU industrial emissions standards, while fines were minimal, delayed, or overturned. The NGOs argue this constitutes a pattern of institutional protection of polluters, at the expense of public health and the environment.

The filing urges the European Commission to launch an infringement procedure against Bulgaria for non-compliance with EU environmental law and to require effective oversight and enforcement. Greenpeace states that the ongoing tolerance of harmful emissions threatens citizens’ rights to clean air and undermines the EU Green Deal and rule-of-law obligations.