WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2401/97 by Leen van der WAAL to the Commission. Recognition of the Logos Bible Academy in Bulgaria
Date: 1997-07-10
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN DER WAAL
Subjects: Bulgaria, freedom of religious beliefs, fundamental rights, higher education, recognition of studies, religious institution, theology, university

16. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 117/17

(98/C 117/21)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2398/97

by Carles-Alfred Gaso‘liba i Bo¤hm (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Environmental damage in the Oliva-Pego marsh

(10 July 1997)

The Oliva-Pego marsh in the Valencia Region has suffered considerable damage in the last few weeks as a result
of fires, ploughing and the drying up of the wetland. All this constitutes a serious environmental problem which
is supposed to be solved by the execution of the project for a national park in the area.

Is the Commission aware of the current situation concerning the project for the national park in the Oliva-Pego
marsh? Can it supply information about the European aid requested by the Valencian authorities to finance the
purchase of land from farmers?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 1997)

The Commission is aware of what has been happening in the Pego-Oliva marshes, since conservation of this area
is one of the objectives of the Life-Nature project (cid:145)Programa de acciones para la conservacio·n de humedales
valencianos  y  creacio·n  de  a·reas  de  reserva  para  el  samaruc  (Valencia  hispanica)’,  the  contract  for  which
(B4-3200/92/15183 and B4-3200/95/525) was established in December 1992 between the Commission and the
Government of Valencia.

The  Commission  has  asked  the  beneficiary  to  forward  regular  information  on  the  action  taken  to  ensure  the
conservation of this wetland area in the face of activity by certain farmers. The following measures have been
taken:

› 

lodging of a complaint by the Director of the reserve against the Mayor of Pego (alleged violation against
natural resources and the environment, serious dereliction of duty, illegal possession);

›  order from the Consejer(cid:14)·a de medio ambiente freezing all forms of activity in the marshes;

›  order from the competent judge prohibiting all activity in the marshes and asking the civil guard to monitor

potential infringements;

›  action taken in defiance of this ban has been reported to the competent national court.

In 1996 the Valencian authorities purchased, or took steps towards purchasing, 569 (cid:145)anegadas’ (approximately
50 hectares) of the Pego-Oliva marshes for a total of PTA 111 million. Steps are being taken to purchase a similar
surface area in 1997.

(98/C 117/22)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2401/97

by Leen van der Waal (I-EDN) to the Commission

(10 July 1997)

Subject: Recognition of the Logos Bible Academy in Bulgaria

According to reports in the May 1997 issue of Face to Face (published by (cid:145)Droits de l’Homme sans Frontie‘res’)
the Logos Bible Academy is still not officially recognized by the Bulgarian Government, in spite of repeated
attempts to obtain recognition. The Academy is supported by the main, officially recognized Protestant churches
in Bulgaria, was certainly recognized by the Sofia courts in 1990 and provides academic training considered
equivalent  to  that  of  the  Faculty  of  Theology  of  St  Kliment  Ohridski  University  in  Sofia.  When  religious
legislation  was  adopted  in  1993  the  Logos  Bible  Academy  was  refused  recognition,  as  a  result  of  which  the
Academy has been facing all kinds of practical difficulties.

1.

Can the Commission confirm these reports?

To what extent is the refusal of official recognition to the Logos Bible Academy in contravention of the

2.
principle of freedom of religion as laid down in the Bulgarian constitution and international treaties?

Is the Commission prepared to request the Bulgarian authorities to grant official recognition to the Logos

3.
Bible Academy as soon as possible?