Bulgarian Parliament calls for EU penalty proceedings against Greece over border blockade

Bulgaria’s National Assembly unanimously adopted a declaration on February 19 2016 condemning the Greek blockade of the two countries’ border and calling on the European Commission to initiate penalty proceedings against the government of Greece.

The declaration, approved by all 186 MPs present in Parliament, called on the Greek authorities to take steps to establish order and ensure free movement across the border.

The National Assembly called on Bulgarian authorities to continue their efforts to resolve the crisis bilaterally.

The declaration was adopted as, resulting from the protest by Greek farmers against pension system reforms and a counter-blockade by Bulgarian lorry drivers, all checkpoints at the Bulgarian-Greek border were closed to all types of vehicle traffic.

On February 18, speaking during a visit to Brussels for the European Council meeting, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov expressed support for the counter-blockade by the Bulgarian lorry transport firms and said that Greece was not a functioning state.
 [sofiaglobe.com]
19/2/16
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