Macedonian Businesses Protest Greek Border Closures

Bogorodica-Evzoni border crossing with Greece

Macedonian companies say border closures occasioned by public sector strikes in Greece are costing businesses dearly.

"The transport and economy of the entire Balkan region is suffering losses due to the Greek strikes and we fiercely protest against the blockages at border crossings," the letter reads.

The protest from the Association of Macedonian Enterprises for International Road Transport, AMERIT, has been signed by the country’s most significant commercial chambers, unions and freight forwarding associations.

The note has been sent to the European Commission, the Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, Greek Customs, the World Customs Organization and other international bodies such as the World Trade Organization and the World Bank.

The highway to Greece is the most important supply and export route for landlocked Macedonia, which depends on access to the Greek port of Thessaloniki.

Greek strikes have gained momentum this year as Greeks protests against the tough austerity measures imposed by the government in Athens.

Following closures in September, the latest closures on the Greek border crossings started in mid-October when striking customs officials did not permit freight vehicles to cross the frontier for ten days.

Some businesses estimate that this blockade alone cost Macedonian firms €15 million.