site.btaBulgarian Hauliers Protest against Mobility Package as Leaders of EU, Western Balkans Meet in Sofia

Sofia, May 17 (BTA) - As EU leaders are meeting with their Western Balkan counterparts in Sofia on Thursday, Bulgarian heavy-duty trucks line part of the central Tsarigradsko Chaussee boulevard to protest against the EU Mobility Package which they fear will undermine the competitiveness of their business. The road hauliers hope the European leaders will finally see them and understand their problem.

Hauliers from other Bulgarian locations - the cities of Plovdiv, Varna, Bourgas, Rousse, Pleven, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Svilengrad, Smolyan and border checkpoints Koulata and Ilinden, among others - are expected to join the protest.

The protests are peaceful and there are no plans for blocking roads.

The hauliers sector wants to tell the leaders of the EU Member States that it does not accept the new regulations in the sector planned by the Union. According to the representatives of the sector, the new regulations will lead to its practical destruction.

Before the beginning of the EU-Western Balkans Summit, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov told journalists that he has already discussed the problems related to the proposed mobile package with the EU leaders and is optimistic that they will be resolved.

The hauliers urge Bulgarian politicians not to use this problem for partisan agenda but focus instead on the common cause of protecting national interests and avoiding discriminatory decisions in the Union.

They expressed their gratitude for the support of the government and Parliament in Bulgaria.