Turkey and Bulgaria are negotiating a new border crossing for trucks only, north of Kapikule – Kapitan Andreevo, Turkish trade minister Omer Bolat said, according to BTA.

It would be the fourth land crossing between the two countries. The aim is to cut truck queues and speed up trade with Europe.

Building will start once the two sides sign the necessary agreements, Bolat said.

The talks are the result of diplomatic efforts by Ankara over long lines of trucks that hold up exporters and haulage firms. Last month queues at the border reached 30 km because the crossings could not process all the trucks.

So far the two countries have been linked by three land crossings: Kapitan Andreevo (Kapikule), Lesovo (Hamzabeyli) and Malko Tarnovo (Dereköy). Most goods bound for Europe go through the first two, but traffic is more than they can handle.

Kapikule and Hamzabeyli together handle about 2,000 trucks a day, said Serafettin Aras, head of the International Transporters' Association. He says more capacity is needed.

Aras believes the new crossing will cut waiting times, raise Turkey's exports and speed up deliveries. Every day of waiting adds to costs, and farm produce, industrial goods and textiles suffer delays, he said.

Aras also believes the crossing will ease transit along the Middle Corridor and the Development Road, the two strategic land routes for trade between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Ankara has raised the Schengen rule limiting stays to 90 days in any 180-day period with Bulgarian authorities and European Commission officials. Turkey wants easier visa rules and priority at the border for Turkish truck drivers. Drivers and haulage firms have filed a string of complaints and want a decision at the highest level.

Aras hopes the crossing will open within a year.