It has become a habit for Greek farmers to protest and make camps along the Bulgarian border; and make threats for blockades with tractors and other agricultural machinery. The protesters call against the tax policy of Athens and therefore want to block the Kulata – Promahon border checkpoint. So, the week passed at the backdrop of tension along the border between Bulgaria and Greece.

Let us first recall that the blockade of the border last year, also in early February, caused losses of tens of millions to Bulgarian carriers and, accordingly, to manufacturers and retailers. This time the situation is not so dramatic, at least now. On Tuesday, farmers tried to carry out their plans but the Greek riot police blocked their path before they could reach the border and traffic in both directions did not experience serious difficulties. On Wednesday the Kulata - Promahon checkpoint was closed for an hour at the request of Greek authorities, in order for them to deal with the attempts of farmers to block roads. A three-kilometer-long line of trucks formed on the Bulgarian side of the border.

Unlike last year, this time good synchronization and exchange of information between the Bulgarian and Greek authorities was seen. Interior Minister Plamen Uzunov had a phone conversation with his Greek counterpart Nikolaos Toskas, who vowed that Greek forces do everything in order not to allow blocking the border between the two countries that are also EU Member States. The press office of the Interior Ministry announced that they "greatly appreciate the existing cooperation between ministries and express readiness to continue cooperation."

On the other hand, two weeks ago, Bulgarian drivers threatened Greek farmers that if they blocked the border again, in turn they would block transportation of Greek oranges, tangerines, lettuce and whatnot for the Bulgarian market.

Greek farmers have been protesting against the new higher tax on revenues, land and fuel. This is their right, but not at the expense of others. In addition, it is not a secret that during the high agricultural season many of these same farmers hire foreign workers on the black market for pennies without paying taxes to work on their fields. These workers include many Bulgarians.

There are forecasts that tension is yet to rise. Don't protesters have some imagination and think of other ways of voicing their demands? The trick with roadblocks is already too old. 

English version: Al. Markov