site.btaBulgarian MEP Warns EU about Possible New Blockade of Border with Greece

Bulgarian MEP Warns EU about Possible New Blockade of Border with Greece

Sofia, January 18 (BTA) - Bulgarian MEP and Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) deputy leader Angel Djambazki has urged the EU institutions to do their best to prevent a blockade of the Bulgarian-Greek border by discontented Greeks farmers and other citizens because this will affect thousands of EU transport companies and citizens again, IMRO's press office said.

Djambazki recalled in his letter that last year's blockade caused huge losses to the Bulgarian economy, as well as to hauliers and citizens from Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Germany. He noted that it is unacceptable for the EU to have Greece solving its domestic issues by holding thousands of people hostage at the border.

The letter is addressed to the newly elected European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc, Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska, and European Council President Donald Tusk.

On Wednesday Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova and the Border Police Director, Chief Commissioner Svetlan Kichikov, discussed with senior staff at the Kulata border checkpoint plans for traffic organization in the event of a Greek blockade. The Interior Ministry is keeping in touch with the Greek authorities to get early notification of farmers' protests. An average of 1,300 lorries are checked at Kulata every day.

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The Bulgaria-Greece Friendship Group in Parliament, headed by Daniela Saveklieva (GERB), met with Greek Ambassador Grigorios Vassiloconstandakis. The expected blockade of the Kulata border checkpoint by Greek farmers was on the agenda. The ambassador assured the MPs that the Greek government was in serious dialogue with the farmers and did not expect the border to be blocked. Saveklieva quoted him as saying that if Greek farmers took some kind of protest action, it would affect the country's interior.