Greeks cross border for cheap clothes, food and fuel after Bulgaria enters Schengen zone

Greeks cross border for cheap clothes, food and fuel after Bulgaria enters Schengen zone
The price of a litre of 95-octane petrol in Bulgaria is around €1.3, while in Greece it is sold at €1.8 per litre. / Rudy and Peter Skitterians via Pixabay
By bne IntelliNews Southeast Europe bureau January 6, 2025

Drivers from Greece have been flocking to Bulgaria to fill up their tanks with cheaper fuel since the start of January, when Bulgaria and Romania became full members of the Schengen border-free area, the Greek Reporter news outlet reported on January 6.

The Council of the European Union admitted Bulgaria and Romania to full membership of the Schengen area on December 12, deciding unanimously that land borders with the two countries will be lifted as of January 1, 2025. Bulgaria's entry to the bloc finally gave Greece a land border with a fellow Schengen member. 

Following Bulgaria’s full Schengen entry, Greeks have also been shopping for clothes and groceries at lower prices in neighbouring Bulgaria. Greek Reporter has calculated that the prices of these goods are 40% lower in Bulgaria compared to those in Greece.

The price of a litre of 95-octane petrol in Bulgaria is around €1.3, while in Greece it is sold at €1.8 per litre.

Greek Reporter noted that the fuel prices in Greece are among the highest in the EU, mainly due to a high tax imposed by the Greek government on gasoline.

The news outlet has calculated that a Greek driver with a car with 50-litre tank would pay €64 to fill it up in Bulgaria versus €90 in Greece.

A similar phenomenon was seen when Croatia joined Schengen and the Eurozone two years ago. Its entry to the bloc sparked a shopping spree by Croatians in neighbouring Slovenia, where the prices at supermarkets were considerably lower even though incomes in Slovenia are higher. 

Bulgaria and Romania had been striving for years to join the Schengen border free zone, but their entry was repeatedly vetoed by some existing members, even though they fulfilled all the criteria for Schengen membership years ago. 

At the end of March 2024, Bulgaria and Romania were admitted to the bloc but only for air and sea travel. Austria blocked the lifting of land borders, demanding stricter control of entry of illegal migrants from the two countries.

The Netherlands also previously blocked admission to Schengen, citing significant corruption in Bulgaria. However, in December 2023, the Netherlands lifted its veto following a set of reforms adopted by Sofia. Vienna finally agreed in 2024 to allow full Schengen membership for the two Southeast European countries. 

 

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