29.11.2024
Repair works of the first section of Danube Bridge will be completed by Christmas, so as to open both lanes. Under this mode, they will operate subject to Bulgaria’s prospective land accession to the Schengen area, Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev announced when he visited the border area near Rousse. The Prime Minister also pointed out that the administration of the bridge fee is to be discussed by the Operational Headquarters that is in charge with the reorganization of the borders in connection with Schengen. Alternative options will be considered, including online payment to avoid traffic jams.
It is to be decided how the controls that are currently exercised at the border are to be transferred inland and exercised on the basis of a risk analysis. The Prime Minister noted that after Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area, in the first six months, control on the border with Romania will not be completely lifted while it will be different and much more relaxed. Dimitar Glavchev noted that this would not apply to Bulgaria alone and that the same monitoring period would be valid for the border between Romania and Hungary. Moreover, travels between Bulgaria and Greece will be greatly relaxed as practically there will be no border there after Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area.
Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev announced that members of the local authorities would be invited to join the Operational Headquarters that will work on the reorganization of the units subject to Bulgaria’s prospective accession to Schengen in order to cover all border-related issues. “The central government and the local authorities work. We hope that another institution will become operational soon. Had we discontinued work in the course of a month, as the Parliament did, this would have been felt quite tangibly,” the Prime Minister said further.
