Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
in fi ghting corruption, the hope for environmental justice seems to go
through external channels. The most effective channels through which
to apply external pressure on decision makers are various EU institu-
tions, international fi nancial institutions offering funding for environ-
mentally destructive investments, transnational media outlets, and
transnational movement organizations targeting both the state and the
corporations. Although it is still early to assess the new government, its
sensitivity to censure by the EU (and the international community more
generally) seems to have been a major factor in prompting more regular
institutional processes, which may bring some improvement in the rule
of law over time. The EU, however, is no panacea for opponents of these
projects. Business interests exert strong infl uence in the EU (the use of
cyanide in gold mining, for example, is not forbidden by EU regulations),
so moving politics up to that level provides no guarantee that citizens'
interests will prevail. Furthermore, the EU only has limited direct lever-
age over national institutions, as demonstrated by the EU's need to
withhold structural funds and the failure of that penalty to bring the
Bulgarian institutions and their practices into line. Ultimately, most local
groups who wish to oppose or alter investment plans in order to ensure
equitable environmental outcomes will have to develop strong ties and
a complex strategy on multiple levels.
Notes
I would like to thank the scholars and activists in Bulgaria who took the time
to help with this project, as well as Diana Hinova for research assistance and
David Alexander for early bibliographical work.
1. Infringement proceedings are one of the main tools used by the European
Commission to ensure fair competition in the EU's single market. The European
Commission investigates allegations of infringement of its own accord or at the
request of a member state and can decide to bring proceedings against a member
state at the Court of Justice of the European Communities (formerly known as
the European Court of Justice). Usually the commission attempts to resolve the
issue before it goes to court. If a case is not resolved before it is heard, the Court
of Justice can order a resolution of the case and, on second hearing if the com-
mission fi nds noncompliance, fi ne the state for infringement.
2. The coalition estimated that 90 percent of the Krumovgrad residents were
opposed to the project, a fi gure borne out by the 10,000 signatures collected on
the Municipal Council's petition in 2005 (Beshkov 2008).
3. Bulgarian law does not allow ethnic parties, so the MRF campaigns on a
platform of rights and freedoms for all Bulgarians and allows everyone to join.
Still, its membership is largely Turkish and most ethnic Turks support the party.
