site.btaTransport, Regional Development Ministers Join PM as He Checks Danube Bridge Border Crossing between Bulgaria and Romania

Transport Minister Krassimira Stoyanova and Regional Development Minister Violeta Koritarova were at the Danube Bridge border crossing between Bulgaria and Romania Friday for an inspection led by Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev.

The visit was prompted by complaints that trucks are being held up and made to go through what is called "a virtual line" even after Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen area for land travel and vehicles are supposed to cross the border without stopping or waiting. Much of the complaints are related to an ongoing repair of Danube Bridge, which does not allow border crossing to be as sooth as everyone expects.

The Transport Minister said that the authorities have an obligation to ensure good conditions for carriers. She also said that the virtual lines should not be used when they are not needed, and that officers of the Interior Ministry, the local road authorities, the regional governor and the mayor will control that.

The Minister also said that that it takes less than a minute to cross the same border at Danube Bridge 2 between Vidin and Calafat. 

The Regional Development Minister said that the authorities on the two sides of the border have agreed a change of the working hours for the customs officers to make sure they don't change the shifts at the same time and thus avoid a hold-up at the border crossing.

Also, arrangements will be made to have a special corridor for vehicles who have paid the bridge fee online, in order to speed up the crossing.