As part of its EU entry requirements, the Bulgarian Ministry of Finance is to close all duty free outlets at ports, airports and border entry points with Turkey, Serbia and Macedonia in January 2007.

According to a report in yesterday's Dnevnik daily newspaper provision for the closures has been included in amendments to the Duty-Free Trade Act which are presently awaiting parliamentary approval.
Provided approval is forthcoming, duty free border stores will only be permitted on the frontiers with the non-EU countries of Turkey, Serbia and Macedonia.
Meanwhile a report by the European Commission monitoring the progress made by Balkan countries towards eventual membership of the EU has delivered a pretty damning report on any prospects for Montenegro which separated from Serbia last May.
The report notes that customs reform, which is key for any agreement with the EU, has advanced but ‘duty-free shops have recently been established at land borders, which is a matter of concern, as it increases the risk of smuggling.’