A draft proposed amendment to Bulgaria's Environmental Act to ban the use of the controversial cyanide leaching technology in metal extraction projects in Bulgaria passed the first procedural step on July 17 during a session of the Bulgarian parliament's European Affairs Committee. Deemed to be not in contradiction with European Community legislation, the proposal received majority support from the committee members. Wider discussion of the proposal, being put forward by the independent parliamentarian Maria Kapon, at the Committee for Environment is expected in the autumn.

The coalition Cyanide-Free Bulgaria, bringing together environmental NGOs as well as several mining associations and the new Bulgarian political party “The Greens”, welcomed the cross-party support for the proposal which saw only one vote against and one abstention. The proposed amendment runs to one line: "Prohibits the treatment of metal ores and their concentrates through the application of cyanide leaching." Read more about the implications of these developments here.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is no longer considering financing for a controversial hydrocarbons terminal in Vlora, Albania.

The project, being promoted by Italian company La Petrolífera Italo Rumena and originally seeking a EUR 15 million loan from the EBRD, has been the object of fierce local protests, with locals asking for - and being denied - a referendum on its implementation.

Read more about this important decision, following several years of pressure from the local group Civic Alliance for Protection of Vlora Bay with recent assistance from Bankwatch.

Campaigners and local community members involved in the Coalition “Cyanide-free Bulgaria” coalition formed a delegation today presenting a petition to the Ministry of Economy and Energy in Sofia that calls for the completion of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process on the USD 220 million Chelopech copper and gold project. “Cyanide-free Bulgaria” is concerned that the Bulgarian government may officially sign off the project's concession agreement with the Canadian mining company Dundee Precious Metals (DPM) without crucial public consultation taking place.

The district court in Vlora, Albania last week released three members of the Civic Alliance for the Protection of Vlora Bay who were arrested and detained for two weeks after protesting against the construction of a hydrocarbons terminal in Vlora. The terminal, regarded by the protestors as bringing few benefits to the local economy in exchange for high environmental risks, is being built by the Italian investor La Petrolifera Italo Rumena. The project is currently seeking a EUR 15 million credit from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).