Bulgarian lawmakers back coal plants with vote to roll back green targets

Miners and utility workers protest demanding the government to amend its commitments to the EU, for the coal phase-out and for cutting greenhouse gas emissions of the energy sector by 40% by 2025, in Sofia, Bulgaria, January 12, 2023. REUTERS/Spasiyana Sergieva

Bulgaria's lawmakers on Thursday backed a resolution aimed at avoiding an early phase-out of coal-fired power plants as more than 1,500 miners and utility workers demonstrated in front of the parliament in support of the coal industry.

In a 187-11 vote, lawmakers across the political spectrum agreed that the interim government should start talks with the European Commission and backtrack from its commitment to cut energy sector greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 2019 levels by the end of 2025.