BULGARIAN TIMBER COMPANIES BLOCK BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Exporters of timber and freight forwarders will block the border crossing points with Turkey and Greece near the town of Svilengrad for six hours on 24th of March.

Between 10.30 and 16.30, representatives of the industry launch a protest simultaneously at the border crossing points Kapitan Andreevo at the border with Turkey and Kapitan Petko Voivoda at the border with Greece.

The protesters argue that the moratorium on export of unprocessed timber, voted by the Bulgarian Parliament, is an obstacle for the business of nearly 800 companies in Bulgaria.

After a protest held outside the building of Parliament on 18th of March, the Agriculture and Foods Committee promised to start preparing amendments to the law on forests, but representatives of the industry insist the export ban be urgently cancelled. They say they are ready to continue the protest and block the roads all over the country until the ban is cancelled.