Bulgaria gives green light to Gradina 2

The Bulgarian Council of Ministers has approved a draft agreement between the Bulgarian and Serbian governments on the opening of the joint border crossing points Kalotina 2 (Bulgaria) and Gradina 2 (Serbia) as a basis for negotiations, Bulgarian media reported. The Interdepartmental Council for Border Control adopted a decision at its regular meeting on the construction of a new joint border crossing point on the Bulgarian-Serbian border, which would be located on Bulgarian territory near the Kalotina border crossing point, intended for the passage of citizens and passenger cars, with seasonal employment and fixed working hours. After that, according to Bulgarian media, preliminary consultations were held with the EC, which received a positive opinion.

The draft agreement stipulates that the contracting parties, within a period additionally agreed between their competent authorities, build and open a new joint border crossing point on the land area of the village of Kalotina, Dragoman municipality, on the territory of Bulgaria. Each of the contracting parties will build the necessary infrastructure on its territory for the functioning of the new road border crossing point. The draft agreement provides for the establishment of a Joint Expert Commission, which will specify the main technical characteristics of road connections, the location of routes, their intersections with the border, the location of the new border crossing and its technical parameters, the mode of operation, infrastructure, types of cargo and passengers, legal and factual issues related to the construction of the border crossing, as well as all other issues of common interest.

It was announced last autumn that Serbia and Bulgaria were considering the possibility of opening a new border crossing. The reason for this, as stated at the time, is the large crowds at the existing Gradina crossing during the season. In addition, it is estimated that more than 1,000 workers and students from the Pirot region often travel to Bulgaria.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Government of Bulgaria

border crossing Gradina

border crossing Kalotina

border crossing Gradina 2

border crossing Kalotina 2

new border crossing between Serbia and Bulgaria