Dear Fellow Owners,
Please see below news article that was recently in the Bulgarian media.
We have translated into English for your convenience.
Last call for you to do your part this Friday.
It is imperative to mobilize all family and friends to
cast their vote in the European elections for Clare Daly and Mick
Wallace as their representation is vital in Europe for us as owners but
for many more around the world without a voice.
Please take a moment to promptly reach out to your contacts and
encourage them to support Clare Daly and Mick Wallace. This outreach is
crucial to ensuring their continued representation in Europe.
News article in Bulgarian media
EC sued KEVR for electricity and water in a complex in Pomorie
A committee in the European Parliament left open a petition to apartment owners
The European Commission will write to the Bulgarian Commission for
Energy and Water Regulation (KEVR) due to non-implementation of European
legislation.
This became clear after a debate in the Committee on Petitions in the European Parliament in Brussels.
The petition submitted by lawyer Teodor Sheykov is on behalf of a
group of owners of apartments in the resort complex “Sunset Resort” in
Pomorie. Sheykov stated before the commission that he represents over
100 homeowners – Bulgarians, British, Irish,
Ukrainians, Russians and others.
MEPs could not believe their ears when they heard that in 2023, in
the 21st century, in the EU, a person could be left without electricity
and water in his home.
In fact, the Irish far-left MEP Claire Daly, who came to the
resort, was the first to raise the alarm about the case back in 2020.
She even included the case in a resolution on the principles of the rule
of law and fundamental rights in Bulgaria, which
the EP then adopted. The problem is that the owners of the apartments
have a common electricity and water meter, which calculates the
consumption according to the square footage of the apartments.
One of the owners in “Sunset Resort” filed a claim back in 2016. He
requested individual access to water and electricity. However,
magistrates said that for this to happen, there must be consent from all
the other flat owners. Ultimately, the Supreme Court
ruled in favor of the plaintiff. However, KEVR refused to implement the
decision. Thus, according to the petitioners, the regulatory body
violates European law, in particular a 2019 directive.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that a number of owners of
apartments in “Sunset Resort” want to accommodate refugees from Ukraine
there, lawyer Sheykov pointed out. Individual homes are also owned by
Ukrainians who want to permanently settle in
them because of the war in their homeland.
“To tell you the truth, having a vacation property in Bulgaria is a
real challenge. It’s a nightmare. If the owner decides to be
conscientious and pay a normal service charge, you face the issue of
electricity and water. Sorry, in 2023 in the EU not having
access borders on absolute madness. And then, when we have clear
European legislation, very often it is speculated and abused in
Bulgaria” , stated the Bulgarian socialist MEP Petar Vitanov.
He sided strongly with the petitioners.
“There are things that are unbelievable. The inability of the local
government is very impressive” , states the German Peter Jahr from the
European People’s Party (EPP).
Due to the fact that there is no water and electricity, the resort
remains closed. The European Commission must act as quickly as possible
and talk to the Bulgarian authorities, Clare Daly insisted.
Some MEPs suggested that the EC should write to the authorities in
Sofia and KEVR. There were also suggestions that Brussels would launch
an infringement procedure.
“The commission confirms that owners are entitled to basic services
as well as individual electricity and water meters. This is laid down
in the directive from 2009 and the new directive on energy markets from
2019″ , said the representative of the General
Directorate “Energy”, who was present at the meeting.
He added that the Bulgarian authorities must ensure that all
measures for equal access to services are implemented, and that
suppliers must fulfill their obligations to provide electricity and
water to the owners.
It is particularly important for the Commission what the subsequent
actions of the regulatory authority will be after the decision of the
Supreme Court.
However, the representative of the EC pointed out that the
regulator is basically independent from public authorities. And from
this point of view, direct actions against the Bulgarian state are not
the most appropriate move. But it is appropriate to activate
a procedural framework for opening a dialogue with KEVR. Therefore, the
Commission believes that the complaint should have follow-up actions.
Brussels intends to start a dialogue with the regulator and promised to take further action.
The petition remains open at the suggestion of all political groups in the relevant parliamentary committee.
https://clubz.bg/142752
We have translated into English for your convenience.
Last call for you to do your part this Friday.
It is imperative to mobilize all family and friends to
cast their vote in the European elections for Clare Daly and Mick
Wallace as their representation is vital in Europe for us as owners but
for many more around the world without a voice.
Please take a moment to promptly reach out to your contacts and
encourage them to support Clare Daly and Mick Wallace. This outreach is
crucial to ensuring their continued representation in Europe.
News article in Bulgarian media
EC sued KEVR for electricity and water in a complex in Pomorie
A committee in the European Parliament left open a petition to apartment owners
The European Commission will write to the Bulgarian Commission for
Energy and Water Regulation (KEVR) due to non-implementation of European
legislation.
This became clear after a debate in the Committee on Petitions in the European Parliament in Brussels.
The petition submitted by lawyer Teodor Sheykov is on behalf of a
group of owners of apartments in the resort complex “Sunset Resort” in
Pomorie. Sheykov stated before the commission that he represents over
100 homeowners – Bulgarians, British, Irish,
Ukrainians, Russians and others.
MEPs could not believe their ears when they heard that in 2023, in
the 21st century, in the EU, a person could be left without electricity
and water in his home.
In fact, the Irish far-left MEP Claire Daly, who came to the
resort, was the first to raise the alarm about the case back in 2020.
She even included the case in a resolution on the principles of the rule
of law and fundamental rights in Bulgaria, which
the EP then adopted. The problem is that the owners of the apartments
have a common electricity and water meter, which calculates the
consumption according to the square footage of the apartments.
One of the owners in “Sunset Resort” filed a claim back in 2016. He
requested individual access to water and electricity. However,
magistrates said that for this to happen, there must be consent from all
the other flat owners. Ultimately, the Supreme Court
ruled in favor of the plaintiff. However, KEVR refused to implement the
decision. Thus, according to the petitioners, the regulatory body
violates European law, in particular a 2019 directive.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that a number of owners of
apartments in “Sunset Resort” want to accommodate refugees from Ukraine
there, lawyer Sheykov pointed out. Individual homes are also owned by
Ukrainians who want to permanently settle in
them because of the war in their homeland.
“To tell you the truth, having a vacation property in Bulgaria is a
real challenge. It’s a nightmare. If the owner decides to be
conscientious and pay a normal service charge, you face the issue of
electricity and water. Sorry, in 2023 in the EU not having
access borders on absolute madness. And then, when we have clear
European legislation, very often it is speculated and abused in
Bulgaria” , stated the Bulgarian socialist MEP Petar Vitanov.
He sided strongly with the petitioners.
“There are things that are unbelievable. The inability of the local
government is very impressive” , states the German Peter Jahr from the
European People’s Party (EPP).
Due to the fact that there is no water and electricity, the resort
remains closed. The European Commission must act as quickly as possible
and talk to the Bulgarian authorities, Clare Daly insisted.
Some MEPs suggested that the EC should write to the authorities in
Sofia and KEVR. There were also suggestions that Brussels would launch
an infringement procedure.
“The commission confirms that owners are entitled to basic services
as well as individual electricity and water meters. This is laid down
in the directive from 2009 and the new directive on energy markets from
2019″ , said the representative of the General
Directorate “Energy”, who was present at the meeting.
He added that the Bulgarian authorities must ensure that all
measures for equal access to services are implemented, and that
suppliers must fulfill their obligations to provide electricity and
water to the owners.
It is particularly important for the Commission what the subsequent
actions of the regulatory authority will be after the decision of the
Supreme Court.
However, the representative of the EC pointed out that the
regulator is basically independent from public authorities. And from
this point of view, direct actions against the Bulgarian state are not
the most appropriate move. But it is appropriate to activate
a procedural framework for opening a dialogue with KEVR. Therefore, the
Commission believes that the complaint should have follow-up actions.
Brussels intends to start a dialogue with the regulator and promised to take further action.
The petition remains open at the suggestion of all political groups in the relevant parliamentary committee.
https://clubz.bg/142752