Situation at Bulgarian – Greek border crossings normalises – but problems expected at Danube Bridge at Rousse
Vehicle traffic was proceeding normally through all border crossings between Bulgaria and Greece on February 22 after blockades by protesters on both sides of the frontier were lifted the previous day, but motorists faced a problem elsewhere as tailbacks were expected at the Danube Bridge crossing into Romania.
Romania began road repairs on its side of the border, expected to continue until late April. Traffic on the bridge is being limited to a single lane and periodically the bridge will be closed entirely.
On the Bulgarian-Greek border, more than 1500 lorries had crossed from Bulgaria into Greece at the Kulata-Promachonas checkpoint by noon, Bulgarian National Radio said. Traffic was normal at the other Bulgarian-Greek border crossings.
It remained unclear whether Greek farmers, protesting against pension system reforms and whose representatives were due to hold talks with Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras on February 22, would renew their blockade.
Additional Border Police, Customs Agency and National Revenue Agency staff have been deployed at the Kulata crossing to facilitate the processing of cargo.
Pending a decision on a blockade, Greek farmers have left agricultural machinery nearby the Promachonas checkpoint.
The National Association of Bus Carriers estimated losses to Bulgarian bus companies at 20 000 to 30 000 euro a day because of the Bulgarian-Greek border blockades, local media said.
Transport Minister Ivailo Moskovski, speaking on February 21, said that Bulgarian businesses’ losses because of the blockade at the Greek border would add up to millions of euro.
