Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

From today the Turkish side voids all single licenses for road transport between the two countries. That was stated by the Executive Director of the "Automobile Administration" Executive Agency Dimitar Ganev, during today’s emergency press conference.

This decision was taken unilaterally by the Turkish side. In his words, the reason for the actions taken according to the Turkish side is that Bulgaria had to provide 125 000 transit permits for this year.

Dimitar Ganev explained that the quota licenses are renegotiated each year. For 2014 the quotas have not been agreed although repeatedly requests by Bulgaria to hold a bilateral meeting at which it will be specified. Last year there was not a meeting between the two parties and so far a date for a meeting is not scheduled from the Turkish side, said also Ganev. He added that as a reason for the refusal Turkey stated that the Bulgarian side should give it a certain number of permits for 2012.

Dimitar Ganev noted that the Bulgarian side does not agree with these terms and insisted on a meeting to be clarified these issues. In addition to this he said that despite the lack of talks, from our side has absolute kindness.This year, following the principles of reciprocity, we have provided 5 000 plus an additional 10 000 licenses so that Turkish carriers have no problem passing through Bulgaria by the end of February.

Dimitar Ganev recalled that as a result of arrangements in 2013 were exchanged 250,000 single transit permits for Turkey and 10 000 for Bulgaria. Analyses show that per year Turkish carriers use about 125 000 while the Bulgarian’s use 10 000. In the single quota permits are included for each of the parties 1100 of the type for / by a third party and 32 000 bilateral licenses. According to the agreement between the two countries at the request of either party to renegotiate the quota a bilateral meeting should be held to officially determine the number of permits for next year. In the agreement it is stated that at the beginning of the year each party shall provide to the other half of the agreed license. Dimitar Ganev announced that the Bulgarian authorities will implement reciprocal measures taken in relation to the Turkish side restrictions.

Dimitar Ganev said that today a meeting was held with the management of Automobile Administration and the representatives of the industry on which it became clear that carriers support the position of the Bulgarian administration.