SOFIA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Krassimir Karakachanov, deputy prime minister and defense minister of Bulgaria, said here on Monday that Bulgaria should toughen its position towards the European Union (EU) over the mobility package, which allegedly harms the interests of Bulgarian transport companies.
Karakachanov told local TV that transport was the third largest source of public revenue in Bulgaria, and the third major item in Bulgaria's state budget after energy and tourism. It was about 14 billion leva (about 8.4 billion U.S. dollars) in annual turnover generated by Bulgarian companies.
If Bulgarian companies go bankrupt, drivers could lose their jobs and international companies would then try to hire them, which could mean tens of thousands more Bulgarians potentially emigrating. This is by no means good for Bulgaria, he said.
The EU Mobility Package foresees that truck drivers from eastern European countries will receive the same payment for journeys abroad as those in Western European transport firms.
Hundreds of truck drivers blocked roads across Bulgaria in mid-May as EU leaders met in Sofia, protesting against the mobility package, calling it a protectionist measure designed to help rival firms in Western Europe.
The Bulgarian transport association said around 120,000 drivers from the country would lose their jobs under the proposed rule changes.
