Danube Bridge 2 expected to boost economy in the region of Vidin , Bulgaria
In the end of October, two months earlier than planned, Danube Bridge 2 started working, linking the Bulgarian town of Vidin with the Romanian Calafat. First to try the new bridge were Johannes Hahn, EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, and his Romanian counterpart Victor-Viorel Ponta. “Completion of this bridge sends a strong signal from young EU Member States towards Europe", the Commissioner said. Locals hope that the new bridge will help economy in the region. The town of Vidin is one of the poorest in Bulgaria with unemployment reaching up to 22%. Most of the young people leave the city as students. “I hope that the new bridge will bring positive changes to the region. I hope more jobs would be opened,” an unemployed young man says. “It would be good for the city if more visitors come here. The road is not going through the city but I hope that more tourists will visit it,” adds a young woman. The hope is the newly built bridge, some 8 kilometers north from the town. Rosen Raikov is one of the construction workers on it. He has been working abroad for a long time but returned to his native city of Vidin. However, his views about the future of the city are not very optimistic.