Protesting Greek Farmers Renew Blockades Along Bulgarian-Greek Border

World » SOUTHEAST EUROPE | February 11, 2016, Thursday // 07:47
Bulgaria: Protesting Greek Farmers Renew Blockades Along Bulgarian-Greek Border Queue of trucks at Kulata border checkpoint. Photo: BGNES

Protesting Greek farmers renewed the blockades at checkpoints along the Bulgarian-Greek border.

An agreement was reached on Tuesday evening between Bulgarian authorities and Greek officials to temporarily lift the blockade in order to allow for trucks which have piled up to clear.

Tensions at the border escalated on Tuesday after Bulgarian truck drivers staged a counter-blockade by not allowing vehicles to pass from Greece.

Greek farmers have been protesting in the past weeks against the suspension of subsidies and proposed social security reforms which foresee increase of tax and pension contributions.

Kulata checkpoint was closed to trucks at 15 o'clock (EET) on Wednesday and the heavy vehicles will not be allowed to pass through the crossing until 11 o'clock on Thursday.

The passage of cars, minibuses and buses was restored.

No vehicles were allowed to pass through Ilinden checkpoint until 22 o'clock on Wednesday, while Kapitan Petko Voyvoda crossing remained closed to all traffic until 20 o'clock.

The other checkpoints – Makaza, Zlatograd and Ivaylovgrad were functioning normally on Wednesday.

The passage of trucks through Kulata will be carried out according to a strict schedule, with the heavy vehicles to be allowed between 11 o'clock and 15-16 o'clock.

Bulgarian drivers are planning to stage counter-protest if the blockade is not lifted at 11 o'clock on Thursday.

Bulgarian authorities have repeatedly called on Greek officials and the European Commission to take measures and end the blockade as it is violating founding principles of the EU such as the free movement of people and goods.

The European Commission responded that it had no legal grounds to launch an infringement procedure or impose sanctions on Greece.

Tensions at the checkpoints are expected to remain as a general strike is planned to take place in Greece on Friday.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Southeast Europe » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: Bulgaria, greece, border, checkpoint, crossing, protests, farmers, trucks, blockade, European Commission, Kulata, Ilinden, Kapitan Petko Voyvoda

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria