The Center for Environmental Law (CEL) was created in October 2002 under a project financed by a grant from the Regional Environmental Center for CEE – Sentendre, Hungary, and with the assistance of the Foreign Ministry of the Netherlands under the Regional Program for Environmental Protection in Southeastern Europe.

   CEL was created through collaboration between Ecological Association “Demetra” and Hristo Ivanov, lawyer.

   The project is led by Alexander Kodjabashev-lawyer and chairman of the management body of Ecological Association “Demetra”.

   The main objective of the project is to ensure the effective and accurate implementation of environmental legislation, to ensure the respect of the constitutional right of living in a friendly and healthy environment (article 55 from the constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria) and the ensuing rights for access of environmental information, public participation in environmental decision-making, and the access to justice.

   The immediate objectives of the project are:

1. to establish and develop a sustainable center for legal and consultative activities in the sphere of environmental law.
   
2. dissemination and improvement of the knowledge of environmental law within the different target groups – lawyers, administration and citizens.
   
3. to create narrower connection between those members of the professional community, interested in environmental law both on a regional and national level.

   CEL is committed to fulfilling its goals through:

1. defense of citizens and NGOs at court. CEL will aim at identifying areas, in which the administrative and judicial practices do not correspond to the content and spirit of environmental legislation – in such cases CEL’s objective will be to attack the unlawful acts of administration and court using the means provided by the law. Cases that match the Center’s objectives will be taken by CEL and the NGOs and citizens concerned will be defended for free.
   
2. Organization of seminars for lawyers, state and municipal administration, NGO representatives. Internships for students of law are also part of the CEL activities plan.
   
3. Setting up discussion forums on questions regarding judicial problems in the sphere of environmental law. CEL has planned the organization and coordination of an online forum on judicial problems in the sphere of environmental law and at least two national meetings between lawyers working in the field of environmental law.
   
4. offering state and municipal authorities legal consultations and analyses in the process of environmental decision making.