Bulgaria Sees Record Influx of Non-EU Workers, but Labor Shortages Persist
Bulgaria has seen a record influx of workers from non-EU countries in recent years, yet the demand for labor in various industries remains unmet
Long lines of tractor trailers are reported Wednesday morning at the Svishtov - Zimnich ferry and the border checkpoint Kardam between Bulgaria and Romania.
Zaharin Penov, Chief Commissar and Head of the Main Directorate Border Police, says there are 90 trucks at the ferry and 200 at Kardam. Traffic is now running normally on Danube Bridge.
Traffic restrictions for vehicles weighing over 10 metric tons on Danube Bridge connecting Bulgaria and Romania were lifted at 7 pm Tuesday.
It had been initially announced that the restrictions would remain in place until April 13.
Danube Bridge was closed for heavy trucks on Sunday due to a large pothole in one of the lanes in the Bulgarian section of the bridge.
Bulgarian and Romanian authorities are jointly repairing the facility, which is currently the only bridge between the two countries along their 500-km Danube border.
The 2.8 km Danube Bridge, linking Ruse in Bulgaria and Giurgiu in Romania, was completed in 1954.
In September 2011, former Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, officially cut the ribbon for completed repairs at the section where the pothole appeared. The cost of the works was BGN 1.7 M and they included replacement of the pavement, the hydro-isolation, and the lighting.
Traffic continues to be temporarily restricted to a single lane. Restrictions will be lifted after repairs conclude.
A second facility, the so-called Danube Bridge 2, is expected to start operating between Vidin and Calafat in May.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, Bulgaria's economy showed a stronger performance than anticipated
Restaurant and hotel industry representatives in Bulgaria are escalating their protests against the planned increase in VAT for the sector,
In February, Bulgaria's annual inflation rate rose to 4%, up from 3.8% in January
Industrial production in Bulgaria continued to experience a downturn at the start of the year,
Bulgaria’s prospects of joining the eurozone in January 2026 remain within reach
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