In brief
Bulgarian Minister Georgi Peev has asked Hungary to open navigation corridors along the Danube so Bulgarian vessels stranded for two months can depart. The request follows the Bulgarian Danube Chamber’s claim that dredging restrictions are causing the blockage. If a solution is not reached quickly, the government says it will bring the matter to European institutions.
According to a report from Bulgarian news agency BTA on 28 October 2026, Georgi Peev, Minister of Transport and Communications, called on Hungary to open navigation corridors along the Danube, allowing Bulgarian ships that have been stranded for two months in the Hungarian section of the river to proceed.
The appeal followed contact from the Bulgarian Danube Chamber (BDC) in Ruse, which forwarded its concerns to Peev and Deputy Foreign Minister Hristo Polendakov earlier that Wednesday. The chamber argued that the river was navigable but that restrictions imposed by Hungarian authorities due to dredging activities were causing the blockade.
During a telephone conversation between Peev and Hungary’s Minister of Transport and Investment David Vitezy, the main topic was securing time slots for the passage of vessels. Both sides acknowledged that the corridor should be opened, but details on scheduling remained under discussion.
Vessel owners and BDC members who participated in the call maintained that the only obstacle was the Hungarian dredging restrictions, not any geographic or technical impediment. They emphasized that their vessels could safely sail once appropriate channels were opened.
The Bulgarian government stated that it is monitoring the situation closely and is prepared to raise the issue with European institutions if a timely solution is not achieved. The minister’s statement expressed concern over the economic impact of the delay on Bulgaria’s maritime trade.
There has been no official response from the Hungarian side reported in the BTA source, leaving the matter unresolved as of the publication date.
Border crossings on the Danube have long been a point of coordination between the countries it traverses, and delays can affect supply chains across the EU. The current stand‑still highlights the need for bilateral agreements on navigation and dredging rights.
As the situation develops, Bulgarian authorities are monitoring diplomatic channels and considering escalation to EU bodies to secure a quick resolution for the stranded ships.
