Almost 99% of the 23,431 people who voted said 'no' to the construction of the pipeline that is being planned to carry Russian oil from the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Bourgas to the Greek town of Alexandroupolis. Russian tankers will transport the oil to Bourgas.

Pomorie is the third community where voters living near to the route of the pipeline have opposed its construction in a local referendum. However, the first two referenda were deemed invalid because the turnout was below the necessary minimum of 50%: in April, 2008, the majority of the turnout of around 30% of the 12,000 residents of Sozopol voted against its construction; and in February, 2008, a referendum was held in Bourgas at which 96.77% voted against the pipeline construction, but turnout was once again less than 50%.

In Pomorie's case, however, 60.16% of eligible voters took part, validating the referendum. The results will be sent to the Bourgas Regional Governor, the European Commission and the company developing the project. However, according to the Bulgarian law on referenda, votes such as the one in Pomorie can only be on subjects associated with local affairs. When it comes to international agreements such as the one between Russia, Bulgaria, and Greece on the oil pipeline, only a national referendum can change the status quo.