Construction works on the Calafat-Vidin Bridge over the Danube will be stopped if the European Commission does not accept the extension of a financing deadline so that construction can be completed by June 2011, Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov said during a meeting with visiting Romanian PM Emil Boc on Friday. “Neither party is happy with what we have seen. We hope we will be able to walk or drive for a coffee in either Romania or Bulgaria [on the bridge] in a year’s time,” Borisov said.

If the European Commission does not give a favourable answer to the joint request made by Romania and Bulgaria to extend the financing term for works on the Calafat-Vidin Bridge, Borisov warned that the project will have to be stopped. “However, I am optimistic about the fact that the two countries’ effort will yield results in Brussels,” he added. PM Boc in turn told Bulgarian journalists that Romania was not responsible for delays in the bridge construction.

The European Commission will most likely agree to extend the term for Calafat-Vidin Bridge construction funding, Commission spokesman Ton Van Lierob said, quoted by the Bulgarian public radio station. The EC intends to have a flexible approach as regards important financing projects within the ISPA pre-accession programme and to extend expenditure eligibility deadlines until 2011 or even 2012, Lierob said.

No more excuses for performance delays

The two PMs also warned representatives of Calafat-Vidin Bridge contractor FFC Construction that they would no longer accept any excuses for performance delays. The deadline for the completion of the work is June 9, 2011. “We want no more excuses, we want facts. The transport minister (e.n. Radu Berceanu) who knows all facts related to the project is here with us, and we expect to hear no more excuses. We want to open the bridge on June 9, 2011, the rest is petty talk,” Boc told FFC Construction representatives while on a visit with Borisov to the Vidin-Calafat Bridge worksite on the Bulgarian side of the Danube. Romania’s Regional Development and Tourism Minister Elena Udrea was also present.

Worksite chief Alberto Bergara explained that contract performance delays were caused by both countries authorities’ failure to issue necessary environmental permits and other paperwork for the construction company.

Transport Minister Berceanu contradicted Bergara: “That is a big lie, as they cannot claim they are unable to work here because of an issue on the Romanian side where another company – accidentally also Spanish – works.” Berceanu however admitted that the construction company contracted by Romanian authorities for the Calafat-Vidin Bridge also reported delays.

Bridge tolls possibly abrogated

Romania and Bulgaria are considering the elimination of Giurgiu-Ruse bridge tolls for motor-vehicles, the two PMs announced. The plan was discussed by Boc and Borisov, in Sofia, on Friday, and is to be further assessed by both countries’ transport ministers.

The two officials also agreed to open the Turnu Magurele-Nicopole Danube ferry service. Boc and Borisov also agreed that experts from both sides would set priorities for the construction of new bridges between Calarasi and Silistra or from Bechet to Orsova and discuss the development of two hydro-power stations on the Danube.