румъния

Breaking Boundaries: Bulgaria’s ‘Virtual Traffic’ at the Romania Border and the Firms behind it

Since Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen Area on January 1, the promise of open borders has yet to trickle down to truck drivers. Instead of seamless travel, they’re being funneled into a paid ‘viritual queue’ at border crossings, a practice that’s been ongoing for years and involves the same network of companies.

The Insidious ‘Virtual Queue’

Nova TV‘s recent investigation exposed how truckers at the Ruse border with Romania are being directed to a private parking lot to receive a ‘virtual queue’ number, a system meant to manage border traffic and minimize bottlenecks. This parking lot, run by a private firm, handles the queue, with its employees flagging down trucks and distributing numbers.

The revelations come as no surprise to long-time observers. Similar practices have been reported at other Bulgarian borders, with truckers being directed to paid parking lots, often under duress. While these parking lots may seem innocuous, they’re part of a larger ecosystem of companies profiting from Bulgaria’s borders—one that has only seemed to grow with the country’s entry into Schengen.

"Virtually" Speaking: Bulgaria’s New Frontier

Bulgaria’s entry into Schengen has indeed reduced border checks, but the practice of herding truckers into paid parking lots persists. At the ‘Dunav Most’ border checkpoint in Ruse, two out of four lanes are now open for free traffic, with others reserved for random checks. However, these checks are infrequent, affecting only 5-10% of traffic.

After Nova TV‘s exposé, the car stopping truckers was removed from the scene, but the virtual queue remains. Ruse’s mayor and regional governor announced that the queue will be reactivated when truck traffic increases, which is expected during the upcoming моst repairs.

Following the Money Trail

The parking lot at Ruse is owned by ‘Тир Паркинг Русе,’ a company 40% owned by Anevra Lazarova, who also serves as its director. The remaining 60% is owned by two companies represented by Emil Hrusev, a former deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank. Despite requests, ‘Тир Паркинг Русе’ did not provide comment.

Hrusev’s involvement doesn’t stop at Ruse. Through another firm, he holds a stake in ‘Ай Би Ти Ти,’ which owns parking lots at the Kapitan Andreevo and Lesovo border checkpoints.

Another significant player is Razmig Chakarayan, or ‘Ami,’ who co-owns ‘Ай Би Ти Ти’ with Hrusev. Chakarayan was linked to a scandal involving the state-appointed lab ‘Evrolab 2011,’ which handled EU-bound food product inspections without a tender. The lab was later connected to a Greek national wanted for organized crime.

The Ruse parking lot’s operator, ‘Тир Паркинг Русе,’ paid a symbolic amount for the land it uses, which belongs to Ruse Municipality. Meanwhile, truckers pay 15 BGN for a Bulgarian license plate or 25 EUR for a foreign one. Despite being voluntary, some truckers have reported feeling pressured to pay.

Similar parking lots operate at Bulgaria’s borders with Turkey, with all pointing back to the same network of companies. A 2023 investigation by the Anti-Corruption Fund (ACF) uncovered this web of companies illegally profiting from Bulgaria’s borders.

A Hidden Network

This network of companies, profiting from Bulgaria’s borders, has been operating for years. From theRsue parking lot to ‘Evrolab 2011’ and the Kapitan Andreevo and Lesovo border checkpoints, a handful of companies and individuals have been quietly raking in profits.

The government has admitted to the problem, with the Minister of Interior acknowledging the ‘virtual queue’ issue. Yet, no concrete actions have been taken to dismantle the network. Instead, they’ve merely promised to devise a comprehensive border management strategy.

As Bulgaria’s borders become more open, it’s crucial to ensure they’re not merely becoming more profitable for a select few. The country’s entry into the Schengen Area should be transforming borders into gateways, not cash cows.

Headline: Romanian Tourists Flood Bulgarian Stores and Restaurants After Schengen Zone Entry

Subhead: Bulgaria and Romania celebrate newfound freedom as border controls disappear, signaling a boost in tourism.

Five days since Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen zone as full members, the impact is already visible in the northern Bulgarian city of Ruse. Local shops and eateries are filled with Romanian citizens making the most of the abolished border controls.

At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2025, Bulgarian Minister of Interior Atanas Ilkov and his Romanian counterpart Catalin Prădoiu officially lifted the barrier at the Danube Bridge, accompanied by the European Union anthem played by a Romanian military orchestra.

The historic moment was also captured by Bulgarian border police officers. Officer Georgi Ivanov immortalized the occasion with a snapshot in front of his workplace, where he had long collaborated with his Romanian colleagues.

While the atmosphere was festive, border officials from both countries brace for more complex challenges ahead. "We’re facing increasingly complicated tasks," they told BNR.

The surge in Romanian tourists is expected to continue until January 8, when Romania returns to work after the holiday season. Traffic on the Danube Bridge may be disrupted due to ongoing repairs, but border checks are now a thing of the past.

Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union in 2007 but had to wait 16 years to gain full access to the Schengen area. The elimination of border controls is set to foster closer ties and stimulate tourism between the two countries.

Rumania Takes Lead in Bulgaria-Rumania Danube Bridge Project

Rumania has assumed the lead role in the realization of the project for a third bridge across the Danube River, connecting the Bulgarian city of Ruse with the Romanian city of Giurgiu. The regional governor of Ruse, Dragomir Draganov, announced that the Romanian side has selected the companies that will conduct the preliminary investigation and design of the structure.

"The investigation has begun and is expected to be completed by mid-2026," Draganov stated.

The European Commission has allocated €2.5 billion in funding for the second bridge in Ruse. The project has been approved for funding under the military component of the Connecting Europe Facility, as part of the creation of a fast ‘South-North’ military corridor linking Greece with Rumania via Bulgarian territory.

Rumania’s Initiative

The European Commission’s documentation lists the Romanian National Administrative Company for Road Infrastructure as the investment coordinator, according to Sega newspaper.

Draganov expressed concern that the Danube Bridge 3 might be completed before the Ruse-Veliko Tarnovo motorway, which is the natural continuation of the bridge on Bulgarian territory, is built. He noted that work on the high-speed highway is still at the ‘documentary procedures’ stage.

Historical Context

Currently, only two bridge connections exist along the 406-kilometer Bulgarian-Rumanian border – Vidin-Kalafat and Ruse-Giurgiu – which are unable to accommodate the increasing traffic.

The project for a third bridge dates back over 20 years. In early 2024, the European Commission designated it as a priority, and the European Agency for Climate, Infrastructure, and the Environment allocated €7 million for preliminary studies.

Estimates from the European Parliament’s representation in Sofia, cited by Money.bg, suggest that the construction of the third Danube Bridge will take at least 10 years.

For comparison, the first bridge between the two countries, the ‘Friendship Bridge’ connecting Ruse and Giurgiu, was inaugurated in 1954.

Rumania to Shutter Over 30 Border Checkpoints by 2025; Enhanced Security and Schengen Integration Ahead

Rumania is gearing up to close more than 30 border checkpoints by January 1, 2025, marking its entry into the Schengen Area by land. This is according to a government resolution published on the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ website for public consultation, as reported by the Romanian "Economedia".

The initiative, driven by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, emphasizes the urgent need to implement measures outlined in the European Union Council’s December 12, 2024 decision, which eliminates controls on persons at internal land borders between Bulgaria and Hungary, as well as between Romania and Bulgaria, starting January 1, 2025.

The closures will predominantly affect border checkpoints with Hungary, followed by those with Bulgaria. Rationale behind the closures includes the integration of Schengen rules and the necessity to strengthen public order and security, given Romania’s current battles with diverse illegal migration and its strategic location as a transit point from East to West.

"The removal of internal border controls implies the need to enhance measures to ensure public order and security, taking into account that Romania is now facing a broad spectrum of illegal migration," the document states. Transnational police cooperation is deemed crucial for addressing security threats and maintaining smooth Schengen operations.

To prevent people from bypassing authorities by simply traveling between member states, Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria will bolster their cross-border cooperation, involving joint actions like cross-border pursuits and surveillance, as well as transnational initiatives such as joint operations involving temporary deployments of border officers.

Existing equipment and infrastructure at the shuttered checkpoints will be repurposed based on operational needs or disposed of according to legal provisions. However, the Kalafat border checkpoint in Dolj County will remain operational as an international border crossing point in maritime mode.

Furthermore, in accordance with an agreement signed by Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, and Hungary’s interior ministers in early December, Bulgaria and Romania will maintain border controls for an additional six months after their Schengen accession. Meanwhile, the Bulgaria-Greece border will be free of such controls post-Schengen integration.

As Romania prepares for these significant changes, it iterates its commitment to navigating the complexities of Schengen integration and ensuring the security of its citizens and the broader European community.