Desislava Terzieva: A balance for fair compensation for property owners is needed, but without damaging the state budget

In terms of private land expropriation procedures related to the construction of the North Speed Ring and the dissatisfaction of some property owners regarding the set prices, the Minister of Regional Development Desislava Terzieva stated that the case is very serious and is a problem for both the owners and the State. 

These properties have been appraised based on a methodology adopted in 2010 by GERB government, the Minister said. The experts, selected by a public procurement procedure in 2012, have made the appraisal based on this methodology. 

In this particular case, nothing can be done and I, as a Minister, have no power to revoke these appraisals, said Terzieva. The only way is the legal one – challenging before the court, which is already being done by the owners.. 

In this regard Minister Terzieva has ordered to the Chairman of Road Infrastructure Agency to review the methodology for the assessing the compensations for expropriation of properties for state needs and to make concrete proposals to determine is there any possibility to change the legislation. We need a balance between fair compensation for property owners, but without damaging the state budget, the minister stressed out. . 

Terzieva said that European practices are being studied as well in order not to delay the construction of major infrastructure projects and property owners to receive fair compensation.