The concession of ports in Bulgaria may be delayed again if the right-wing opposition manages to collect enough signatures to challenge the latest amendments to the Sea Areas, Internal Waterways and Ports Act before the Constitutional Court. That emerged from a statement of MP Dimitar Dimitrov, who criticised the setting up of Port Infrastructure in charge of collecting port fees. According to Dimitrov (United Democratic Forces) only cosmetic changes have been made so far to the initial version of the Ports Act, rather than radical amendments. Part of the port fees should be collected by the port concessionaires or operators to ensure investments in renovation. The same stand is backed by Democrats for Strong Bulgaria, the Bulgarian People's Union and Ataka. Already 49 signatures have been collected (50 required) and the appeal is expected to be moved to the Constitutional Court by this week's end. The Right relies on the support of some left-wing MPs, who have also objected to the establishment of the new structure.

The maritime business is also against the provisions that regulate the collection of port fees, industry organisations told the Pari daily. The companies in the sector insist that they should collect part of the fees.