Bulgaria Business Quits Plans to Block Greek Border

Tractors block the border crossing in Promahonas, Serres prefecture, at the Greek-Bulgarian border blocking the border crossing for the third week in a row, resulting in kilometers-long queues of trucks and cars on both sides of the border. Photo by EPA

A Bulgarian business association has abandoned plans to stage a blockade of the Bulgarian-Greek border on Monday in response to the Greek farmers protests, which have incurred millions of euros of losses.

Following a meeting with Bulgarian authorities, the National Association of Bulgarian Business said their blockade of the Kulata-Promahonas border crossing point, prompted by the intermittent border blockade imposed by the protesting Greek farmers since the beginning of January, has been postponed.

“Our request to stage a blockade was turned down and we will comply with this order,” Svetlozar Nikolov, head of the association, commented on Monday.

Nikolov added that they agree with the officials' arguments that a blockade of the border woould eliminate the possibility for Bulgaria to claim compensations from the European Union.

Talks to resolve the three-week tractor blockade of highways and border crossings in Greece by farmers collapsed on Sunday, increasing the pressure on a government grappling with the country's worst financial crisis in decades.

The farmers refused to back down in the row, which is seen as a crucial test of Athens' determination to impose austerity measures that will salvage Europe's most indebted economy.

The blockade, which is believed to cost EUR 25 M a day, has disrupted transport, damaged commerce and strained relations with neighboring Bulgaria, where exports have also been hard hit.

Bulgaria is demanding compensation of EUR 10 M from its neighbor for the loss of business as a result of the farmers' actions along its southern border.

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