Brussels, Dec. 05, (BTA/GNA) – Bulgaria has presented to the European Union projects for further development of the ports in Ruse and Varna in order to increase capabilities for providing logistical assistance to Ukraine, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Hristo Alexiev told Bulgarian journalists in Brussels, where he is attending an EU Council meeting.
“We have proposed projects for building additional infrastructure in these ports. We are working on plans to use the ferry terminal in Varna,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. Bulgaria is actively helping Ukraine with grain exports and Bulgarian companies took part in the process. Since April, Bulgarian River Shipping has helped with the transportation of some 200,000 tonnes of grain, he said. Alexiev said that Bulgaria provides diesel fuel for farmers in Southern Ukraine.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that assessments are yet to be made of the new restrictions imposed by the EU as of December 5 on oil trade with Russia. “I hope that the European Commission will have done the necessary analyses how this will impact Europe. Bulgaria has backed the proposal and will comply with it,” he added.
Alexiev said that Bulgaria has managed to win the necessary support to include Corridor No. 8 in the Trans-European Transport Network. According to him this is a serious success for Bulgaria. The Deputy Prime Minister said that the corridor has to be built by 2035 and Monday’s decision facilitates funding for projects in Albania and North Macedonia.
BTA/GNA