Wed, Feb 08 2012
Cyclists met in Rousse for a protest on August 11 2008 against the tolls that motor vehicles have to pay for crossing the Romanian-Bulgarian border, an amount of 35 leva a car.
The use of bicycles was a direct aim at the validity of the tax, as bicycles are the only type of vehicle that do not pay a toll on the bridge that crosses the Danube River, connecting the Bulgarian Rousse and the Romanian Giurgiu, private broadcaster bTV reported.
The participants in the demonstration wore T-shirts saying "No to the tolls!" They crossed the Danube Bridge, rode to the Romanian town of Giurgiu and returned back to Bulgaria.
Local people said that the taxes needed to be done away with, as they very often travelled to Romania's nearest airport, and to Bucharest or Giurgiu, while Romanians often came to the Danubian city of Rousse.
February 8 EC report notes a number of developments in Bulgaria’s progress in judicial reform, the fight against corruption and organised crime, but points to need for stronger action in a number of areas.
European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva says that it is ‘impressive’ that the support offered comes at a time when Italy and Poland themselves as struggling with the effects of the severe winter.
Bulgaria has requested assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said that Bulgaria would most probably receive European aid but that it was also true that most of Europe was suffering from severe weather.
Education Minister decrees that from February 8 to 10 inclusive, all schools in Bulgaria will be closed.
In the Bulgarian stretch of the river, ice cover was reported on February 7 to have reached 80 per cent.