14/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - Bulgarian Transport Minister Peter Mutafchiev says that the December 2006 safeguard clause on Bulgarian airlines might be lifted in May 2008. In an English-language Bulgarian newspaper, Mutafchiev is quoted as saying on Thursday 13 March after a meeting with EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot that Bulgaria was a step away from having the clause lifted. Experts from the European Air Safety Agency were in Bulgaria to carry out inspections last year and another inspection is due by the middle of April 2008, whose findings will determine whether the safeguard clause will be lifted. (A.BY)