| News Title | Summary |
| Bulgarian-Hungarian meeting on road transport | A meeting between representatives of Bulgarian and Hungarian branch organisations for
international road transport and their colleagues from the Hungarian road transport association
ATRH was held in Hungary on 28 January. The Bulgarian delegation included: Mr.
Georgi Petrov - Chairman of AEBTRI Executive Board, Mr. Koitcho Rusev - Chairman of
the National Transport Chamber and member of AEBTRI Executive Board, mr. Alexander
Chakarov - Chairman of the National Association of the Bulgarian hauliers and Mrs. Neli
Salo - AEBTRI Deputy Secretary General.
The hungarian delegations was leaded by Mr. Tibor de Sorgo - President of ATRH and
Mr. Hinfner - Secretary General of ATRH. Bulgarian delegation put questions about some
problems met by Bulgarian hauliers on Hungarian territory, such as shortage of permits and
daily vignettes, high rate of road charges (when paid permit are used), etc. Hungarian side
committed itself to eliminate the present problems. Hungarian delegation presented the current
experience and opportunities of the Hungarian road transport operators in the context of
EU enlargement.
Both sides agreed to add supplemental number of permits in the Protocol of the next
Joint Bulgarian-Hungarian Commission on road transport. |
| Agreement on combined transport between Bulgarian and Azerbaijan | The government ratified Agreement on combined transport of goods between Bulgarian
and Azerbaijan, which was signed last October in Baku. The document governs the cooperation
between the two countries in the sphere of combined transport and it aims at facilitating
the movement of freights between both countries. The Agreement is expected to boost
the international transport of goods between the signatory countries, as well as the transit
through their territories. |
| The European Commission grants over EUR 144 million to Bulgarian | Minister of Finance Milen Velchev and the Head of the
Delegation of the European Commission to Bulgarian
Dimitris Kourkoulas signed a financial memorandum, which
envisages granting EUR 144.328 million to Bulgarian under
the Phare programme 2004 - II part.
This is the biggest sum that EU has ever granted to
Bulgaria in the framework of the financial memorandum
under Phare programme, which shows that EU recognised
the ability of Bulgarian to manage projects under the EU programme.
It is also a sign of the growing confidence of the
European institutions in Bulgarian, Minister Velchev pointed
out.
The increase in financing is a clear and concrete indication that the EC is convinced of
Bulgaria’s ability to become a successful EU member, the head of the EC Delegation
Dimitris Kourkoulas said.
A part of the funds will be allocated to improvement railway system and custom control
of future EU borders. |
| The first two port terminals to be offered for concession | Bulgarian government decided to grant on a concession basis port terminals Lesport of
Varna and Somovit of Rousse. According to the Minister of Transport and Communications
Nikolay Vassilev the concessionaire of Lesport must invest at least BGN 2 million for the
first two years and not less than BGN 7 million for the first ten years after signing the contract.
The terms for Somovit terminal are as follows: at least BGN 1 million for the first two
years and not less than BGN 3 million for the first ten years after signing the contract. The
envisaged concession period for both terminals is 30 years. The next ports expected to be
approved for concession are the new terminal for dangerous goods Varna-West, the port of
Balchik and the ferry line between Silistra and Kalarasi.
The decision aims to increase service efficiency and to attract additional freights. |
| New Cross Border Checkpoint at Ivailovgrad - Kiprinos | Bulgarian Council of Ministers adopted a draft Agreement between the governments of
Bulgarian and Greece regarding the opening of a new Cross Border Checkpoint and road
connections between both countries, which will connect the town of Ivailovgrad and the
Greek town Kiprinos. The Agreement conforms with the priority of Bulgarian policy concerning
the construction and development of the regional infrastructure.
The construction of a new border checkpoint at Ivailovgrad - Kiprinos aims at boosting
development of Bulgarian Greek relations. |
| New terminal Nicopol - Turnu Magurele in operation in 2006 | The construction of the ferryboat terminal Nicopol - Turnu Magurele officially started on 11
January. The project amounts to EUR 4.5 million. The financing is provided by PHARE Trans
Border Cooperation Programme (70%) and the state budget (30%). Contractor is Bulgarian
holding "Patishta". The project's term of construction is 16 months and the terminal is expected
to operate in July 2006. The capacity of the equipment is 80 TIR trucks for 24 hours. |
| Tender for the road connection to the Sofia airport announced | Tender procedure for design and construction of road connection between Brussels
Boulevard and the new passengers terminal of Sofia airport might start within few months.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications announced the preliminary stage of the public
order for design and final stage of design for construction works of the road section that
connects Brussels Boulevard and the new passengers terminal of Sofia.
It is the sixth project that has a national importance status. Thus will be facilitated its
realisation on the basis of the Spatial Development Act special provisions. The project,
financed by the national budget, amounts to some BGN 12 million. |
| Bidders confirm their interest in Bulgarian sea airport concession | Five candidates who were shortlisted as bidders in the tender for concession of the airports
of Bulgarian Black sea cities of Varna and Bourgas have confirmed their further participation
in the procedure.
The five companies include a German-Bulgarian consortium between Hochtief Airport
GmbH and Albena, German airport operator Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services
Worldwide in partnership with Bulgarian company BM Star, Copenhagen Airports A/S,
Italian Vinci Airports together with Vinci Concessions and the consortium between Kuwait's
Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi and Sons and Aeroports de Paris.
They have to submit their final offers by 7 March. Concession contracts are expected to
be signed before the start of busy summer season. |
| New fees for excess weight and dimensions in force | As of 01.01.2005 all heavy vehicles, which exceed the maximum authorised weights and
dimensions, are subject to the following charges regardless of the vehicle's country of registration:
For detailed information download the file in PDF format. |
| DRIVING RESTRICTIONS, 2005 | I. There is a prohibition on movement of all kind vehicles with total laden weight over 15 t on
I-5, section Tchernootchene - Kardjali. The traffic is diverted along to following alternative roads:
· direction Haskovo - Kardjali: road I-5 - road III-505 - Manastir - road III-507 - Voyvodino -
Most - Tchiflik - Kardjali;
· direction Assenovgrad - Kardjali: follow the route road III-58 - road I-5 - road III-505 -
Manastir - road I-5 - road III-507 - Voyvodino - Most - Tchiflik - Kardjali;
· direction Mineralni Bani - Kardjali: follow the route road III-506 - III-806 - road I-5 - road III-
505 - Manastir - road III-507 - Voyvodino - Most - Tchiflik - Kardjali.
For detailed information download the file in PDF format. |