Bulgarian farmers block Ivaйlovgrad‑Kипринос crossing to demand lift on truck weight limit

Around 9:30 a.m. on 12 July, dozens of Bulgarian farmers drove heavy agricultural machinery onto the Ivaйlovgrad‑Kипринос border crossing with Greece, shutting the checkpoint for the day. The protest, the second of its kind in a week, seeks the removal of signs that prohibit trucks over 3.5 tonnes from using the former customs post.

Organiser farmer Hristo Parasev, who cultivates about 800 decares of grain and vines, says the restriction hinders the export of his harvest to the nearby Greek market during peak season. He argues that, since Bulgaria joined the Schengen area, there is no reason to keep the weight limit, and he urges the two governments to renegotiate the 2007 bilateral agreement that set the restriction. Fellow producer Georgi Chobanos (≈2 000 decares) adds that transporting produce to Bulgarian depots adds over 60 km and doubles fuel costs, whereas Greek collection points are only a few kilometres away.

The Bulgarian Road Infrastructure Agency confirms the limits stem from the 2007 agreement and cannot be lifted unilaterally. The municipality of Ivaйlovgrad announced that traffic through the checkpoint will remain halted until 22:00, with only light vehicles permitted. Farmers warned that further blockades will continue until their demands are met.