Bulgarian-Romanian Danube Crossing Clogged Due to New Document System

Long queues of freight vehicles have lined up on both sides of the Bulgaria - Romania border. Photo by BGNES

For a fourth day in a row, long queues of freight vehicles have been amassing on both sides of the Danube Bridge.

The congestion is due to the introduction of a new procedure in Romania for processing documents of vehicles weighing over 10 tons, which has been in force since Monday, Bulgarian border police reported, as cited by the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).

The new procedure extends processing time per vehicle by 10 minutes, meaning that an estimated 15 freight vehicles pass the Giurgiu point per hour.

Some 200 trucks were reported Thursday to have lined up at the exit point of Bulgaria near Ruse.

Meanwhile, a 20-kilometer queue was reported on the exit point on the Romanian side.

Authorities have issued recommendations for freight vehicles to avoid travelling through the Danube Bridge.

No congestion has been reported at the other border crossing points between Bulgaria and Romania.

Ferry service at Vidin, Oryahovo, Svishtov is functioning.

Traffic is also normal at the border crossing points in Kardam, Silistra and Durankulak.

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry has expressed concern with the traffic obstructions and has asked Romania for an official explanation.

"Bulgaria cannot accept actions that hamper the free movement of people, goods and vehicles – a fundamental principle of the European Union", the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

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