Greek Farmers Set to Block Bulgaria Border for 10 Days

Bahanov also urged Bulgarians not to take trips to Greece by road over the next 10 days to stop traffic congestion at the border. Photo by BGNES

Protesting Greek farmers are set to block the Bulgarian border for 10 days from Monday, it became clear after a meeting between local government officials from Greece and Bulgaria.

The Deputy Chair of the Blagoevgrad municipality, Georgi Bahanov, confirmed the news after speaking to his Greek counterpart from Serres. Bahanov, along with the Bulgarian Interior Ministry, also urged Bulgarians not to take trips to Greece by road over the next 10 days to stop traffic congestion at the border.

The Greek farmers lifted the blockade at the Ilinden-Eksohi border crossing point on the Bulgaria-Greece border late Friday but will now protest at Ilinden-Eksohi and the Kulata-Promahon border crossing from Monday. Neither cars or trucks will be allowed to cross the border at Kulata, with only cars allowed to cross at the Gotse Delchev crossing.

The farmers are protesting against unpaid subsidies and demand better prices for their production.

On January 21 2009, Greek farmers, protesting against unpaid EU subsidies and falling commodity prices, invaded with their tractors Bulgaria's territory close to the Kulata border crossing point. The blockade escalated and on January 23 all three crossing points at the Bulgaria-Greece border were closed. The protests triggered huge, kilometer-long lines and difficulties for commercial truck drivers and travelers. The Kulata-Promahon crossing point did not reopen until the end of the first week in February.

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