site.btaBlocked Border Checkpoints to Greece Continues to Disturb Road Hauliers' Operation

Blocked Border Checkpoints to Greece Continue to Cause Losses to Road Hauliers

Sofia, February 6 (BTA) - Passage of lorries via the Bulgarian-Greek border checkpoints remains problematic, while the blockade of the busiest border crossing, between Koulata and Promachonas, and also of the one between Ilinden and Exochi, remains, albeit with short breaks, after Greek farmers announced that they were blocking Greece totally, for 24 hours.

The Greek farmers threatened that the blockades will continue indefinitely if the government does not withdraw a bill that will increase taxes and pension insurance payments.

As few as 200 lorries were let through on the night to Saturday via the Koulata-Promachonas checkpoint, to and from Bulgaria. The line of lorries waiting to cross over to Greece is about 10 km, while the opposite queue in Greece is 5-6 km long.

On Friday Bulgarian Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski talked with Ioannis Moisiadis, Deputy Prefect of the Serres Regional Unit in Northern Greece, and with protesting Greek farmers. The two officials agreed that Moisiadis will update the Bulgarian side about the blockade timetable on a daily basis so that Bulgarian hauliers can plan their trips, as well as that arrangements will be made to provide food, water and chemical toilets to the drivers waiting on the Greek side of the common border, as has been done by the Bulgarian authorities across the border.

Moskovski also told the Serres official that Sofia has informed European Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc that the Greek protesters' blockade is hindering the free movement of people and goods along one of the most important and busy Transeuropean roads, Corridor 4.