SIXTY FIRMS CLAIM LOSSES FROM BORDER BLOCKADE

Bulgarian companies can seek justice in Greek court

A total of 60 companies have submitted information about their losses from the blockade of the border by Greek farmers. Agriculture minister Miroslav Naydenov is in charge of the crisis headquarters that coordinates the claims filed to the ministries of transport and economy, too.

Coordination
The losses that have been officially declared by Bulgarian companies amount to BGN 2.5 million, it emerged at the end of last week. However, there are sufficient differences in the data submitted by the industry organisations, because of the tough requirements posed by the crisis headquarters. One of them is that companies have to show documents verifying the time their trucks have stayed at the border. We are now analysing the measures that need to be taken to facilitate companies in proving their losses, deputy transport minister Kamen Kichev told the Pari daily. The documents should be probably issued by the border authorities, he added.
The ministries are not unanimous about the number of companies that have declared losses. According to the foreign ministry, 110 firms have submitted documents. About 40% of Bulgaria's exports to Greece have been affected. The conclusion is based on a comparison with previous periods, deputy foreign minister Marin Raykov told the Pari daily.

Procedure
Bulgaria has sent the information to the European Commission, the foreign ministry said. It is now up to the EC to decide if and when to file a claim to the court in Luxembourg, Raykov explained. According to experts and European commissioners, Bulgaria has grounds for claims against Greece, as the blockade violates the community rights for free movement of people, goods, services and capitals. However, the court cannot compensate the Bulgarian firms. It can impose a fine on Greece, the money from which will be paid to the EU budget, Raykov said.

Bulgarian companies can be compensated if they file a lawsuit against Greece with a Greek court, Raykov advised. Bulgaria may ask for an increase in the EU subsidies to overcome the market distortion from the blockade.