Bulgaria Urges EU to Act to End Border Blockade by Greek Farmers  

Trucks stand on a road during a farmers` protest blocking a road at Derveni point, near the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, 02 February 2016. Photo EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria has asked the European Commission to step in to help restore the free movement of goods across the country’s border with Greece blocked by Greek farmers.

Several key highways and border crossings in Greece have been blocked by farmers protesting against pension cuts sought by the country's international creditors as a condition for releasing further financial aid. The blockades of Greek border crossings over the past few days come ahead of a nationwide strike to protest government reforms planned for Thursday.

In a letter to the European Commission on Wednesday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia called on the EU executive body to take action under its powers to resolve the issue in the shortest time possible.

Bulgaria has expressed the opinion that by blocking traffic at border checkpoints Greece “has failed to fulfil its obligations related to fundamental freedoms within the EU, such as the free movement of people and goods between Member States,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

In particular, Greece “has failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 34 and 35 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the obligations arising from Regulation (EC) № 2679/98 of the Council of 7 December 1998 on the functioning of the internal market regarding the free movement of goods between Member States,” according to the statement.

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