Les fonctions changeantes des frontières bulgares
Authors: Batchvarov Marin 
Published: February 2015

The changing fonctions of the Bulgarian boundaries. — Bulgaria, a small state founded 13 centuries ago in the eastern part of the Balkans, is a true geopolitical « laboratory », where many related phenomena can be observed, including internal geopolitical differences. From geopolitical and geostrategic points of view the significance of the Bulgarian national space has been differently assessed. The proximity of important key-zones has yielded rather negative outcomes and often external powers have had a decisive role on the countries destiny. After 1944, Bulgaria found itself in the Soviet sphere of influence and its borders with Turkey, Greece and later Yougoslavia, became front lines between the NATO and Warsaw pact alliances. The frontiers were strictly guarded and several special zones were created where all movements and economic activities were limited except the military ones. In tact, up to 8% of the national territory was underused in such a way and marginalised. The present boundaries of Bulgaria were determined at the 1919 Neuilly conference. Large parts of Macedonia, Thrace and Dobrodgea, with, then, mostly Bulgarian populations, remained outside the reduced national state. Due to later émigration, replacement with other ethnic groups and assimilation, the boundaries of Bulgaria are now ethnie, the exception being a narrow band on the other side of the Serbian border inhabited by ethnic Bulgarians. A special case is the Bulgarian part of the historic province of Macedonia (the Pirin region). The ethnie adherence of the local population is claimed by the F.Y.R of Macedonia. This, however, does not correspond to the self-determination of this population, by nationality, language and culture, to the Bulgarians. The total length of the Bulgarian frontier amounts to 2245 km including 1872 km on land and 373 km on water (Black Sea and Danube). Except for the surface border with Romanian Dobrodgea, the other land borders generally cross mountaneous and underdeveloped areas. The existing and anticipated frontier check points (see map) are scarce, while their road connections and facilities are outdated and insufficient. Recently, 12 of the total of 16 customs houses were closed, in an effort to reduce illegal dealings and corruption. Since 1989 the Bulgarian borders have been unsealed and the flows of passengers and goods have benefitted a liberal regime. This is not the case with the Greek and Turkish administrations, which are trying to stop immigration using tough visa requirements.

Nevertheless, annually up to 4 million Bulgarians are travelling, mostly to neighbouring countries, while 10 million foreigners are visiting the country mainly as transit visitors (the Turkish workers in Europe being the biggest group), or on a holiday to Bulgaria. The most important frontier check-points are at Dragoman-Kalotina on the Serbian border and Svilengrade-Kapitan Andreevo on the Turkish frontier. Actually, these frontier complexes are part of the motorway and railroad link Paris-Munich-Vienna- Belgrade-Sofia-lstanbul-Baghdad. Other major crossing points are Rousse (via the only bridge on the Bulgarian- Romanian sector of the Danube), Koulata on the highway and railroad to Thessaloniki and Gueshevo- on the road to Skopje. New infrastructural projects financed by the EC involye a new bridge on Danube (location not determined) and the rail and motorway link with Macedonia. An oil and gas pipeline is being discussed with Greece to connect the ports of Burgas on the Black Sea and Alexandroupolis on the Aegean, as a means to deliver Russian and Kazakh energy carriers to Southern Europe. Recently four free economic zones were opened in border areas. Bulgaria recognizes the borders of all Balkan states and vice versa. Minor delimitation and demarcation issues exist with Turkey. Bulgarians are concerned about the cultural identity of the national minority in Eastern Serbia. Trans-frontier pollution still occurs mostly across the Danube.

In gênerai, the Bulgarian boundaries are changing their fonctions from confronting and repelling to openness and coopération. This is, however, hampered by insufficient infrastructures and so far little interest in the neigbouring countries.