Migrant crisis: Bulgaria issues travel warning to motorists about Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary
Against the background of the continuing migrant crisis in Europe, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued its latest travel warning, this time one on September 17 regarding Croatia and Slovenia and a separate advisory about Hungary.
The Foreign Ministry said that, according to Croatia’s interior ministry, at most border crossings between Croatia and Serbia, Croatia and Hungary, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovinia there was no problem with passage of travellers.
At the Bayakovo checkpoint, the main border crossing between Serbia and Croatia, there were long queues of lorries, while the Zupanja checkpoint between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was closed because of protests in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Foreign Ministry recommended that Bulgarian citizens traveling to Croatia should not try to the pass through Tovarnik checkpoint between Croatia and Serba where customs control (for vehicles and trains) is enhanced due to increased refugee flow from Serbia.
The movement of trains and motor vehicles inside Croatia was normal, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry said in Slovenia, temporary border controls had been introduced at a border crossing with Hungary because of the complicated migration situation. There also were increased controls at Slovenia’s border with Croatia.
Given the shift of migration flows to Slovenia, difficulties in road and rail transport in the country were expected in the coming days.
Hungary had put restrictions on the Röszke-Horgoš highway on the movement of people, vehicles and goods, the ministry said.
Bulgaria’s embassy in Budapest had advised that Hungarian police had diverted cars and buses to the nearest checkpoint at the border with Serbia, at Tompa – Kelebija, about 40km from Röszke.
The Ásotthalom – Backi Vinogradi border crossing was closed, the ministry said.
There were traffic jams on the main M5 and M1 motorways en route to the Serbian-Austrian border.
Trains between Hungary and Austria had been suspended for an indefinite period.
Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry advised citizens to avoid travel and transport by rail and by road through the territory of Hungary and to use alternative routes through Romania and Slovakia or through Serbia to Croatia and Slovenia.
(Photo: Jeff Hire/sxc.hu)
