The European Commission (EC) has said that it could implement punitive measures against Athens in the wake of the deteriorating situation on the Greek-Bulgarian border caused by the Greek farmers' blockade, Dnevnik daily said on January 27 2010.

"The Greek government has violated European legislature by not providing Bulgaria and the European Commission with a timely warning for the blockade. Greece had an obligation to provide alternative routes for the freight of goods, which is not the case," Jonathan Todd, spokesperson for the commission was quoted as saying.

"The EC could launch penal proceedings, but the decision will be made only after all facts become available," said Todd.

Should the EC implement administrative sanctions, Athens is likely to be slapped with steep fines, although the legal process could take years to resolve, Dnevnik said.

Meanwhile, an incident was reported on January 27 2010 involving a Bulgarian freight train bound for Greece. Protesting Greek farmers had left their machines and tractors on the railway line between Bulgaria and Greece at the Promachonas border crossing point, Focus news agency said.

The farmers had left equipment on the track without alerting the head of the railway station beforehand. 

According to Focus, station chief Georgios Nikolau had managed to inform the driver of the Bulgarian train about the equipment obstructing their way whereupon the train decelerated and prevented a collision with the tractors.

Subsequently, the train passed the railway station without problems while the farmers had their equipment removed.