In Beli Bryag, a Bulgarian mining village already displaced for an open-pit mine, opposition to the European Union’s coal phase-out is palpable. Despite significant community displacement to make room for the mine’s expansion, Bulgaria’s commitment to exit coal by 2040 aligns with EU aims for carbon neutrality by midcentury. However, for residents like Beli Bryag Mayor Ivelina Dimcheva, the situation is dire, especially with uncertainty looming over the mine’s longevity. The resistance to the Green Deal underscores broader concerns in coal-dependent Bulgaria ahead of both European parliamentary and national elections. Stanimir Georgiev, a veteran miner, voices discontent, organizing protests against what he perceives as a threat to livelihoods posed by the EU’s environmental policies.
