Gunter Verheugen, a German politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry has requested of the Greek government to take "urgent measures" and resolve the ongoing border crisis between the countries caused by protesting farmers, Bulgarian media reported on February 9 2010.

Verheugen is also one of five vice-presidents of the 27-member Barroso Commission. He has informed the agricultural ministers of Bulgaria and Romania, Miroslav Naidenov and Mihail Dumitru, respectively, that he has sent a letter to Athens in which he said that Greek government was obliged to assure the free movement of people, goods and services across the border, as guaranteed by the European constitution.

This has come as a response to the joint letter sent to him by Naidenov and Dumitru, revealing the "substantial financial losses incurred by the blockade".

"I understand your position and your concern, and I have asked the Greek government to undertake all measure available to ensure that the border is freed of the blockade" Verheugen said.

"Any further action on the side of the EC against Greece pertaining to financial compensation will depend on the concrete and factual information provided by your respective governments" he said.

On January 19, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov held an emergency meeting with the European Commission.

In the aftermath of the discussion, Borissov told Bulgarian media that he had told European Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso that Bulgaria needed six million euro in compensation, only two days after the blockade began, Bulgarian media said at the time.

"Many European Union directives are being violated. This is not Bulgaria's problem and there is no reason why this country should bear the brunt of the problem," Borissov was quoted as saying by Dnevnik.

Separate reports in Bulgarian media said the Bulgarian economy suffered financial losses in excess of three million leva a day.

However, following a more meticulous research of data submitted to the EC from an official Bulgarian investigation over the period January 18 to February 4, figures showed the Bulgarian economy had lost about 6.5 million leva, Dnevnik daily reported on February 9 2010.