Protests of Greek Farmers Close Ilinden Checkpoint on Bulgarian-Greek Border

World » SOUTHEAST EUROPE | February 13, 2016, Saturday // 12:05
Bulgaria: Protests of Greek Farmers Close Ilinden Checkpoint on Bulgarian-Greek Border Queue of trucks at Kulata border checkpoint. Photo: BGNES

Protesting Greek farmers are continuing to stage blockades at checkpoints along the Bulgarian-Greek border.

The passage of all vehicles through Ilinden checkpoint will be susppended between 10 and 15 o'clock (EET) on Saturday.

Kulata checkpoint is closed to trucks, with the passage of cars and buses not affected, the interior ministry informs.

The Makaza, Zlatograd and Ivaylovgrad crossings are functioning normally.

Greek farmers have been protesting in the past weeks against planned social security reforms which foresee increases of tax and pension contributions.

They have been staging blockades at checkpoints on borders with neighbouring countries and at main motorways and roads in the interior of the country.

Farmers from all over the country gathered in a large-scale protest in Athens on Friday, which is set to continue on Saturday.

The government showed readiness to negotiate with the protesters after tensions escalated as farmers and police clashed in Athens.

Bulgarian authorities have repeatedly called on Greek officials and the European Commission to take measures against the protests which are violating fundamental principles of the EU such as the free movement of people and goods.

In a telephone conversation with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov informed him of the latest situation at the border and called on the EU's executive body to take measures on normalising traffic.

The European Commission had sent a letter to the Greek government on Wednesday asking it to provide information on the measures it is undertaking to ensure the free movement of goods through the border with Bulgaria.

This was announced by Lucia Caudet, spokesperson of the European Commission for internal market in Brussels on Friday.

Caudet assured that the European Commission is concerned about the blockade and is closely following the latest developments.

It has been informed by both Bulgarian and Greek authorities in line with the so-called “strawberry” directive which foresees the exchange of information on possible restrictions to the free movement of goods and measures taken at ending them.

Caudet noted that Greece is informing the Commission of the latest developments on a daily basis.

The Commission expressed hope that dialogue between the affected countries will help towards removing the obstacles to free movement of goods and ending the economic losses incurred by the blockade.

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Tags: Boyko Borisov, European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, farmers, protests, blockade, checkpoint, border, greece, Bulgaria, Athens

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