Greek farmers' protests hurt Bulgaria

Farmers in Greece demonstrating for higher agricultural subsidies have been blocking border crossing points with Bulgaria since mid-January. This has caused heavy losses for Bulgarian transport and trading companies. Greece is still getting used to its new EU neighbour Bulgaria, writes Balkans expert Rumjana Michneva in the daily Klassa: "I am worried that this crisis could lead to nationalism on both sides of the border. The Greeks are unhappy about cheap [Bulgarian] goods and we're unhappy about the blockade. … It's only since Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU that Greece has realised it has to obey the EU rules. Before that [the Greeks] had a lot of space to themselves, for there was no other EU member in their immediate proximity. So it's understandable that the farmers are not happy about Bulgarian imports; they're not used to this kind of competition."

» full article (external link, Bulgarian)
More from the press review on the subject » EU neighbourhood policy, » Greece, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Rumyana Mihneva

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, February 9, 2010