site.btaBulgaria, Romania Reach Understanding on Easing Cross-border Traffic

Deputy Transport and Communications Minister Nikolai Naidenov and the Deputy Head of Mission at the Romanian Embassy in Bulgaria, Bogdan Tebrean, reached mutual understanding on easing traffic between the two countries, Naidenov's ministry reported on Thursday.

The officials discussed ways to facilitate passage through the Bulgarian-Romanian border crossings, particularly in the summer, looked at the technical condition of infrastructure facilities and considered the establishment of a ferry service between Ruse and Giurgiu. The meeting was held on the initiative of Transport and Communications Minister Nikolai Sabev.

Naidenov proposed that border control on the future Ruse-Giurgiu ferry line could be set up on the Bulgarian side only, so that the service is launched without delay.

Tebrean attributed the cross-border traffic bottlenecks to a 250% increase in heavy-duty truck movements compared with last year and tighter migrant control.

Discussing the construction of more bridges between Bulgaria and Romania over the Danube River, Naidenov said this is an option to minimize the concentration of trucks at the border crossings. He reiterated the Bulgarian view that feasibility studies for new bridges should be carried out simultaneously at five locations.

Currently, the Bulgarian and Romanian banks of the Danube are connected by two bridges and three ferry services.