site.btaInterior Minister: Options Considered for Traffic Relief at Danube Bridge 2

Various options for easing traffic through the Vidin-Danube Bridge 2 border checkpoint are being discussed, caretaker Minister of the Interior Kalin Stoyanov said during Question Time in Parliament here on Friday.

"Under the current regulatory framework, to avoid congestion and facilitate border control activities, checks are to be conducted under the conditions set out in Article 9 of Regulation 2016/399 of the European Parliament and the Schengen Borders Code, which allows for a relaxed regime of border checks in unforeseen circumstances. The implementation of this relaxed regime should be temporary and introduced gradually. A decision on relaxed checks can be made daily but must be coordinated with the state on the other side of the border," Stoyanov said. "When there is a significant build-up of vehicles, a decision is made to conduct relaxed checks for a specific period, and such a decision may not be limited to just one day," he added.

"The accumulation of predominantly heavy trucks is due to checks on both sides. We are in almost daily contact with the Romanian authorities, and I believe it is only a matter of time before this issue is resolved. Everyone will present their opinion, and I think we will reach a solution to the problems. We are optimistic that the process will conclude with our acceptance into the Schengen Area, including at land borders," Stoyanov added. He also mentioned that the launch of a ferry service could potentially ease the traffic. 

"The issue of increasing the throughput capacity at the Vidin-Danube Bridge 2 border checkpoint was discussed between myself and the Romanian Minister of Internal Affairs," Stoyanov said. He explained that Bulgaria has proposed relocating entry inspections to Bulgarian territory beyond Danube Bridge 2, thereby expanding the area for exit and border control operations.

"Border checks on exits from Bulgaria and entries into Romania will remain unchanged. Following the implementation of this proposal, the motor vehicle throughput capacity at the border checkpoint is expected to increase by about 60-70%," Minister Stoyanov said. He added that coordination procedures between Bulgaria and Romania are currently underway.