Bulgarian PM vows to review ban on land sale to foreigners

(SOFIA) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski promised Thursday that parliament would review again a controversial ban on land sales to foreigners that breaks the country's EU commitments.

"The decision on extending the ban on farmland sales to foreigners will be reviewed," the Socialists-backed Oresharski said.

"This was a bad decision, which came as a result from political emotion rather than from a rational approach," he added.

When it joined the European Union in 2007, Bulgaria negotiated a seven-year transition period before allowing foreigners who are not permanent residents in the country to buy land.

Parliament however decided this week to extend the ban until 2020, a move that according to experts contradicted both Bulgaria's EU accession treaty and parts of the country's constitution.

The measure -- proposed by the ultra nationalist Ataka party and approved with the help of conservative, liberal and Socialist lawmakers alike -- might prompt an infringement procedure and sanctions by the European Commission.