24.03.2022

The Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds and Minister of Finance Mr. Assen Vassilev met an official Turkish delegation led by the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye Mr. Mehmet Muş. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Pavel Tonev, Director General of the National Customs Agency, Mr. Ivaylo Iaydjiev, Deputy Minister of Finance, and Ms. Violeta Lorer, Head of the Political Cabinet of the Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds and Minister of Finance.

Among the topics of the meeting were the cooperation in the field of customs, the possibilities for increasing the capacity at border crossings, the system of transit documents for freight transport, the prices of energy resources and the possibilities for using alternative gas supply routes.

The war in Ukraine has caused a change in the geography of supplies of basic foods and raw materials, which puts pressure on the border crossings between Bulgaria and Türkiye: Kapitan Andreevo – Kapikule and Lesovo – Hamzabeyli where the main traffic goes. This requires ensuring the faster crossing of the common border check points by modernising and increasing the capacity, which was agreed upon by both sides.

The prospects for rail transport development as well as the possibilities for interaction in the area of border control and fight with smuggling were also discussed at the meeting.