Bulgarian farmers in EU milk protests

(SOFIA) - Around 100 Bulgarian dairy farmers blocked a key border crossing point to Romania on Wednesday in a protest against low milk prices, national radio reported.

The action, at the Ruse-Giurgiu border crossing over the Danube in northern Bulgaria, was primarily targeted at freight traffic, while passenger cars and buses were allowed to cross the bridge, the report said.

Angry farmers also gathered at two ferryboat crossings to Romania, at Vidin-Kalafat and Oryahovo-Becket, but authorities banned them from actually blocking traffic.

Nevertheless, protest leader Andrian Tsakonski told AFP that it was "only a a matter of time" before there were blockades at the ferry crossing points, too.

"We're protesting against the low purchase prices for our milk. We also want the government to ban the import of cheap milk from other EU member states," Tsakonski said.

The demonstrations remained peaceful, with reinforced police presence at the three crossings.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria's main Kulata border checkpoint to Greece in the southwest is set to remain blocked until Thursday after weeks of protest action by Greek farmers, who are similarly demanding higher purchase prices and government subsidies.

Earlier this week, the protesters agreed to open Bulgaria's two other points of entry into Greece, Ilinden-Exohi and Kapitan Petko Voivoda-Ormenion.