The competitiveness of Bulgaria’s sea and river ports and their role in the development of the strategic Middle Corridor were the focus of a working meeting held at the Ministry of Transport and Communications. It was attended by Minister Georgi Peev, Deputy Minister Anna Natova, representatives of state and private port operators, as well as industry organizations from maritime and river transport.
Participants outlined the key challenges facing the Bulgarian sector in order to strengthen the position of the ports of Varna and Burgas on the global transport map in conditions of increased regional competition. Among the main problems were the insufficiently developed road and rail infrastructure, the outdated regulatory framework and the need for a new model of port management. Regarding navigation on the Danube, it was reported that there have been no systemic problems with navigation in the Bulgarian section over the last four years.
“The country’s goal is to develop a global plan with a clear economic sense and to move from work in isolation to long-term strategic planning that will permanently improve Bulgaria’s position on the global transport map,” Minister Georgi Peev said during the meeting. Minister Peev assured the industry representatives that the government plans to raise the issue of increased fees when passing through the Bosphorus at a high level during the upcoming intergovernmental negotiations with Türkiye. A key negotiating lever on the Bulgarian side will be the fact that Türkiye’s land and rail exports to Europe pass mainly through Bulgarian territory, as well as the increased Turkish interest in the development of new rail links and alternative routes.
As an important step for further joint action, the participants agreed that within two weeks the representatives of the Bulgarian Maritime Chamber, the Burgas Maritime Association and the port operators on the Danube River will submit to the Ministry of Transport and Communications short and realistic proposals with the most pressing problems and solutions.
The goal is to achieve a common position among stakeholders, which will be used as foundation in the preparation of the future strategy for the development of water transport in Bulgaria, the upcoming legislative changes and the implementation of the master plans, Minister Peev added.
