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

Filing Year For Action

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.

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

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

Codes and standards are regulatory instruments that specify minimum standards to protect health and safety. This ranges from performance standards, which prescribe outcomes while allowing flexibility to achieve compliance, to the more prescriptive approach of technology-specific standards.

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

Actions or measures to adapt freshwater systems to climate change.

Actions or measures to adapt freshwater, coastal and marine systems to climate change.

Air pollution involves harmful contaminants in the air, affecting both indoor and outdoor environments. It can lead to health issues like respiratory diseases and heart problems, and climate impacts such as global warming. Pollutants can damage plants, trees, habitats, and water bodies like rivers and lakes.

Fossil gas, commonly known as natural gas, is a fossil fuel consisting chiefly of methane with smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and trace gases, found in underground deposits.

Coal is a combustible sedimentary rock formed from carbonised plant matter, rich in carbon and hydrocarbons, and occurring in several main types including hard coal and brown coal.

The activities of industries that transforms raw materials into finished goods through industrial processes.

Activities of government agencies and institutions that provide public services, enforce laws and manage public resources.

This sector includes firms and individuals offering specialised expertise in fields such as law, accounting, consulting, science and engineering.

This sector involves the distribution, treatment, and conservation of water resources.

Climate change can have a range of impacts on technological system. Extreme weather events can cause infrastructure failures like power outages or damage to roads and bridges, as well as the impacts from waste following natural disasters. Human activities also cause technological impacts, such as the risks posed by oil spillage and leaks.

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

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Fossil fuel

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance