Protesters Renew Blockade at Two Checkpoints on Bulgarian-Greek Border

Protesters have renewed blockade at two of the checkpoints along the border between Bulgaria and Greece.

The Kulata-Promachonas and Ilinden-Exochi checkpoints are closed to trucks, the interior ministry informs.

The blockade at Ilinden was staged at 22 o’clock (EET) on Tuesday, while Kulata was closed at 5 o’clock on Wednesday.

The other four crossings are functioning normally.

A meeting took place between Bulgarian truck drivers and Greek farmers late on Tuesday evening, which was also attended by the chief of police in the Greek town of Serres.

Bulgarian truck drivers are to meet Bulgarian Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski and Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov later on Wednesday.

Greek farmers protesting proposed increases of tax and pension contributions have been staging blockades at checkpoints along the border with Bulgaria in the past month.

Last week the tension escalated as Bulgarian truck drivers staged a counter-blockade after the Greek farmers had failed to keep to their promise to temporary lift the blockade at certain hours each day to avoid the queuing up of trucks.

A full blockade of all six checkpoints was staged on Friday and lasted until Sunday.

On Tuesday, Moskovski estimated that the losses arising from the blockade will exceed EUR 10 M.