1. This latest newsletter covers a four and a half month period, October 2008 – mid February 2009.  It aims to give an overview of the Embassy’s activities during this period.  

Global Economic Crisis

2. At the beginning of October, the “credit crunch” was just beginning.  How fast things have moved over the past four months.  What started as a financial crisis, primarily affecting the United States, has very rapidly developed into a global economic crisis.  A global crisis requires a co-ordinated global response.  The fiscal stimulus package agreed at the December European Council was an important part of that response.  International solidarity and co-ordination is going to be even more vital in 2009 because it is clear it is going to be a very difficult year for all our economies.  The Summit to be hosted by Gordon Brown in London in April will be of crucial importance.

Gas Crisis

3. Bulgaria faced severe hardship for two weeks in January due to the interruption of gas supplies from Russia via Ukraine.  This demonstrates again how important it is for the EU as a whole – and for individual Member States – to reduce dependence on Russia for imported gas (though Russia will always remain a key supplier), to develop new pipeline infrastructure, including the Nabucco pipeline, to improve the functioning of the EU internal energy market, to improve energy efficiency and to develop greater use of alternative energy resources.  There will be an important discussion of European energy policy at the March European Council.

Climate Change

4. Energy security is part of the broader challenge of climate change.  EU leaders reached an historic agreement on binding targets to reduce CO2 emissions in Europe.   We worked closely with the Bulgarian government in the run up to that.  It was one of the main agenda items at the meeting in Sofia in November between the UK’s new Europe Minister, Caroline Flint, and her Bulgarian counterpart, Gergana Passy.  During her visit Caroline Flint also opened an exhibition at my Residence to show some of the practical initiatives the Embassy has been supporting to increase the awareness in Bulgaria of climate change issues.

5. Our project with ECOFYS, the Bulgarian Industrial Association and Utilities Services to promote climate change as an opportunity rather than a threat for business, moved into its second stage in January.  I went to Ruse on 29 January to open the first of three regional networking seminars.  

6. The Embassy published its Environmental impact report in October 2008.  This report summarises the initiatives undertaken last financial year to reduce our carbon footprint, raise awareness about climate change, its implications and the opportunities it brings, as well as to encourage the Bulgarian government to commit to an ambitious EU climate change and energy agenda.  We have circulated the report to Bulgarian Ministries, major companies and other Embassies to encourage sharing of good practice.  We’ve had a very encouraging and positive response.

Organised Crime, Corruption and Judicial Reform

7. Bulgaria is a key partner for the UK in operational co-operation against the threats posed by international trafficking of drugs, people, weapons and contraband.  Bulgaria’s location on the EU’s external border and on a major trafficking route into Europe from the Near East is what makes Bulgaria such an important partner.  An example of recent success was joint action to disrupt a major UK tobacco smuggling gang, operating through Bulgaria.  The joint action resulted in several members of the gang in the UK being arrested and charged.  

8. Organised crime does not respect national boundaries.  So we continue to attach importance to Bulgaria doing more to achieve sustained, concrete results in the fight against international organised crime and high level corruption.  We continue to provide practical support to help encourage the reform process.  Our joint project with the Bulgarian National Audit Office, which I mentioned in my last newsletter, concluded in December.  45 officials from the Bulgarian National Audit Office attended the two seminars and developed their ability to audit EU projects.  In January we completed another successful project, to help improve co-ordination between the different Bulgarian agencies involved in tackling money laundering.  

Trade and Investment

9. We are still waiting for final end of year statistics, but it looks as though overall in 2008 UK exports to and investment in Bulgaria held up pretty well, despite the economic downturn in the last few months of the year.  But it is also obvious that 2009 is going to be a difficult year, and the work of my UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) team in helping UK companies, and their Bulgarian partners, will be of even greater importance – a message underlined by the Chief Executive of UKTI, Sir Andrew Cahn, during his visit to Sofia on 4-5 February.

10. In the last four months, the UKTI team hosted two successful trade missions from the UK in important sectors – one on the Environment at the beginning of October, and one on Ports at the beginning of November.   British companies presented their products and services to potential Bulgarian customers and partners, met important decision-makers and gathered information on current market opportunities.  The UKTI team continued its programme of visits to the different regions of UK to make companies aware of the opportunities in Bulgaria and help them plan their entry/expansion on the market. In addition to inward visits, in the middle of February it also welcomed to Sofia 4 international trade advisors from UKTI’s regional office in the East of England.

Visa Services

11. Bulgarian nationals do not require a visa to visit the UK.  However we still provide visa services for third country nationals living in Bulgaria who may require a visa to visit the UK.  Since September we have successfully operated a “hub and spoke” system for visa applications.  Applications are received here in Sofia but are processed by the larger Visa section in our Embassy in Bucharest.

Working in the UK

12. Although there is no visa requirement for Bulgarian nationals, there are still certain restrictions on the right of Bulgarian nationals to work in the UK.  These restrictions apply for a transitional period (up to a maximum of 7 years) following Bulgaria’s accession to the EU.  In December the British government reviewed these restrictions, on the basis of independent advice from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) concerning the needs of the UK labour market.  In line with the MAC recommendations, the government decided to maintain the current restrictions on Bulgarian (and Romanian) workers.  The restrictions will be reviewed again at the end of 2009.

Consular Services

13. Although “winter tourism” is lower volume than the busy summer months, the ski season means a busy time for my Consular staff, working closely with the main tour operators, airlines and local authorities.  The overall numbers of British tourists are still high, although the recession and the falling pound are bound to have an impact.  We are also conscious that the depreciating value of the pound has resulted in an increase in the cost of living for those members of the British community resident in Bulgaria whose main income (eg. UK pension) is in sterling.  Another facet of the economic downturn is of course a sharp decline in the number of British nationals buying real estate in Bulgaria.  Some building projects are also running into trouble.  We continue to emphasise the importance of researching potential property purchases very carefully, and of taking the best possible legal advice.

British Council

14. 2009 is a special year for the British Council: it marks the 75th anniversary as the UK’s organisation for international culture and educational relations.  The autumn at the British Council saw a number of intercultural events.  Within the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture’s “House” project which was part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue initiatives, two of Britain’s leading comic book artists arrived to work with young Bulgarians who were eager to develop in this area.  

15. A special selection of British animated films was shown at the Filmini Festival in October followed in November by British movies at Kinomania.  I went to see Shane Meadows highly acclaimed “This is England”.  I hope audiences enjoyed as much as I did this challenging portrayal of racial and social tensions in England in the early 1980s.  

16. In mid-December I saw the British Council’s first national competition for young people in vocational schools from around the country who were excited at the opportunity to demonstrate their innovative and entrepreneurial thinking in the Skills@Work Challenge.

17. As more young Bulgarians than ever are beginning their studies in UK universities (over 800 admissions for this academic year!), there is rapid growth in applications for the internationally recognised English language tests.  I was delighted to attend a seminar in January, organised jointly by the Council and the University of Cambridge, who provide this language testing service.

18. Details on all of these initiatives and the exciting events planned for the next few months can be found on the British Council’s website.

Defence Issues

19. Just after Christmas, the last Bulgarian troops returned from Iraq.  It was a chance for us to express our appreciation for Bulgaria’s contribution as a steadfast ally in the difficult, but essential task of helping to rebuild Iraq.  We also very greatly value Bulgaria’s continued – and enhanced – commitment to the ongoing challenge in Afghanistan.  

20. In October an international group from the UK’s prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies visited Bulgaria.  A full and varied programme in Sofia, Bourgas, Veliko Turnovo and Ruse, enabled them to gain a full appreciation of defence and security challenges, with particular focus on the Black Sea Region.  

21. Finally, on defence issues, it was, as always, a deeply moving experience to attend the annual Remembrance Day commemoration in the Commonwealth War Graves in the Sofia and Plovdiv cemeteries.  A chance to honour and remember all those who gave their lives for their country.

22. I hope you have found this newsletter interesting.  Your feedback is always invaluable: you can write to me at information@british-embassy.bg