Bulgarian Companies Report Slim Losses from Greek Blockade

The border crossing point Kulata - Promahonas between Bulgaria and Greece is still closed due to protesting Greek farmers blockade. The blockade is in its 23rd day and 200 tractor-trailers are reported to be waiting in line. Photo by EPA/BGNES

As protests by Greek farmers against falling subsidies entered their fourth week, Bulgarian companies officially reported losses of business worth no more than BGN 13 M, way below the estimated BGN 140 M.

A hundred and eighteen companies have lodged complaints after collecting and submitting documents to prove the amount of losses they have suffered as a result of the blockades.

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. The country has also repeatedly called on the European Commission to urgently intervene and bring to an end the blockade at the border between the two EU countries.

Farmers started their campaign in mid-January to demand higher and faster subsidy payments, but began removing blockades last week despite the government's adamant refusal to increase any payments to support crop prices.

As protesting farmers scaled back highway blockades inside the country in opposition to the government's austerity measures, the majority of those protesting at the Greek-Bulgarian border refused to comply with their colleagues decision and vowed to maintain their tractor blockade under their demands are met, disrupting the transport of goods to and from Bulgaria.

As of February 10 the Greek farmers have terminated the blockade at three border check points on the Bulgaria-Greece border, but have refused to pull out their tractors and other agricultural vehicles from the major Bulgaria-Greece border crossing point – Kulata-Promahonas.

Greek tax and customs officials were on strike last Thursday, while civil servants walked off the job on Wednesday.

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