Title: Chaos at the Danube Bridge: Truckers Face Unexpected Hurdles After Bulgaria Joins Schengen
As Bulgaria officially entered the Schengen Zone this year, drivers from the transportation sector faced unexpected challenges just days later at the Danube Bridge in Ruse. Despite the promise of free movement, truckers found themselves in a confusing situation regarding border crossings into Romania.
On New Year’s Day, truck drivers from Bulgaria bound for Romania discovered they had to first obtain a number from a private parking lot, even when there was no queue on the "Danube Bridge." The numbers were not issued by the state, but rather by privately-owned parking lots, and the process was not free. The cost varied depending on whether the driver was Bulgarian or foreign.
In an audio recording obtained by Nova TV, a truck driver is heard being threatened with police involvement if he refused to obtain a number. This was not an isolated incident; other transportees found themselves in the same predicament during the first three days of the new year.
Representatives of transportation firms have expressed their confusion and frustration. "Why is this necessary? Didn’t Bulgaria join the Schengen area on January 1st, allowing vehicles to pass freely?" questioned Ivo Yordanov, a representative of a transportation firm. "There was an order from the mayor that all vehicles must register in the virtual queue. But there’s no traffic at the moment; what’s the point?" Yordanov said.
Before Bulgaria’s entry into Schengen, similar issues plagued truck drivers, who had to wait in kilometer-long queues, paying high fees for the privilege. These "golden parking lots," as they became known, were largely responsible for the backlog of traffic and high fees.
The sudden absence of queues at the start of the year was thus perplexing to truck drivers, who wondered why they were being directed to private parking lots to obtain numbers before continuing to the border.
When asked about the issue, the Ministry of Transport distancing themselves from the organization, claiming that the virtual queue is meant to assist drivers, not hinder them. They referred the matter to the municipality of Ruse.
The regional ministry explained that "Tir Parking Ruse" lies within the urban territory of the city, and its management falls under the responsibility of the Ruse municipality. The Law on Roads stipulates that the organization of traffic within settlement areas falls under the jurisdiction of the respective municipality.
The mayor’s office has promised a statement on the matter likely to be released on Monday.
