You have my full support for your demands, for the actions you have taken and for the intentions you have to hold fair protests. This is what Head of State Rumen Radev said, who received today at 2 Dondukov street representatives of branch organizations from the automobile transport on the occasion of the problems with the so-called Mobility Package. The Head of State said that the prepared texts, which will be voted on 10 January in the Committee on Transport and Tourism of the European Parliament, were discriminatory and said that they severely violate fundamental principles of the EU.
President Radev emphasized that he has always sought support for establishing fair rules for the posting of workers. The Head of State took on the commitment to raise the issue also at his forthcoming talks with European politicians.
I am with you and precisely your fair demands are the reason why all institutions in Bulgaria should unite to support you, Rumen Radev said. The President told the guests that he had agreed to hold the meeting with them not to make an analysis of whether some have succeeded or failed to accomplish their tasks, but to specify what should be done henceforth to ensure success, considering that this means success for Bulgaria. In President Radev’s view, the problems cannot be resolved overnight and the fight should be led in a short-term, mid-term and long-term perspective.
The Head of State voiced his deep respect for the activities done by the hauliers, which have a great contribution to the Bulgarian economy – in terms of the share of GDP or employment. Your work provides for the subsistence of many families and is strongly related to the country’s demography, the President said.
At the meeting Rumen Radev said that the presidential institution regularly communicates with the Bulgarian representatives in the European Parliament on this topic.
“I would like to hear your views and intentions, and how the Bulgarian institutions can do our best to support your actions. Your fight is fair because the actions taken and the attempts to amend the Mobility Package severely violate the EU free market principles, the principles of the free movement of goods, services and people,” President Rumen Radev added.
The President was adamant that we should fight for our rights because this is discrimination against the Bulgarian business.
On behalf of the representatives of the branch, Rosen Dimitrov from the National Transport Association thanked the Head of State for the support offered. In his opinion, all measures envisaged in the Mobility Package are “absolute protectionism and aim to close down the transport industry in Bulgaria.”