Bulgaria Requests EUR 10 M from EU over Greek Border Blockades

Borisov concluded that both Greece and Bulgaria had signed an EU-wide agreement allowing the free flow of goods within the bloc and that this must be adhered to. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, has requested EUR 10 M from the European Union for the ongoing blockade of the Bulgaria-Greek border by Greek farmers.

Borisov, speaking at the Bulgarian ‘Fireman of the Year in 2009’ award ceremony, stated that he talked with EC President Jose Manuel Barroso earlier Tuesday about the problems on the Greek border. He added that Bulgaria had sent an official letter to the European Commission and the Greek government about the case.

Borisov said categorically that he wanted the border to be unblocked and that Bulgaria should not be punished for problems inside another EU country. He concluded that both Greece and Bulgaria had signed an EU-wide agreement allowing the free flow of goods within the bloc and that this must be adhered to.

Protesting Greek farmers started to block the Bulgarian border for ten days from Monday as they rally against unpaid subsidies and low prices for their production.

The Greek farmers have blockaded the Ilinden-Eksohi and the Kulata-Promahon border crossing. Neither cars or trucks will be allowed to cross the border at Kulata, with only cars allowed to cross at the Gotse Delchev crossing.