In brief
Bulgarian vessels have been stuck in Hungarian waters for two months amid dredging restrictions, prompting Minister Georgi Peev to demand navigation corridors. The Bulgarian Danube Chamber, citing the river’s navigability, claims Hungary’s restrictions are the cause, and the government has threatened to involve European institutions. The situation remains unresolved as negotiations continue.
Bulgaria’s Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev urged Hungary to provide navigation corridors along the Danube that would allow Bulgarian ships, which have been stranded in the Hungarian section of the river for two months, to proceed, the BTA reported on Wednesday. The request follows pressure from the Bulgarian Danube Chamber, which has cited dredging restrictions as the cause of the blockage.
Peev said the main topic of his phone call with Hungary’s Minister of Transport and Investment David Vitezy was securing time slots for the passage of vessels. The Bulgarian minister also met with members of the Danube Chamber and vessel owners, who shared their belief that the river section in question is navigable and that the blockage results from Hungarian restrictions imposed during dredging activities.
The Bulgarian government is monitoring the situation closely and has warned it is prepared to bring the issue before European institutions if a solution is not reached in a timely manner, the ministry’s statement read.
So far, Hungary has not issued a formal response to the request, and no concrete timetable for opening or clearing the corridor has been announced. The Bulgarian authorities are continuing to seek a coordinated approach with Hungarian officials and are exploring the possibility of involving the European Union to enforce navigation rights on the Danube.
Uncertainties remain about when Hungary will open corridors, whether the dredging restrictions will be lifted, and whether the Bulgarian government will ultimately raise the case at EU institutions. The timing of any decision and the potential diplomatic consequences are both still unclear.
