On Wednesday, 16th of September 2009, Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borissov, and the Senior Management of Crown Agents’ Programme for Modernisation of Bulgarian Financial Administration held their first meeting since the new Government took office, less than two months ago.

The meeting was attended by Crown Agents’ Programme Director, Vivienne Davies, the Programme Manager, David Smith, the Team Leader, John Brown, and also HM Ambassador, Steve Williams, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Bulgarian Minister of Finance, Simeon Dyankov.

The Prime Minister discussed with Crown Agents the implementation of the Programme for Modernisation of the Financial Administration and ways to provide more active support for the Government's efforts to increase revenue collection and detection of economic crime.  “Our political will is to impose clear rules by cracking down on smuggling rings and combating customs fraud. This is our direction of development and I am intent on following it”, Boyko Borisov said.

Vivienne Davies confirmed that, even in the short time since the Government took office, it can definitely be seen that specific steps have been taken and efforts are made in this direction. She said Crown Agents wants to be part of the process of transition to clear and transparent rules in the management of the Customs and revenue administration.

“I am impressed with the clear and specific messages for fighting corruption and organized crime, the will for transparent governance and for a better image of the state institutions”, HM Ambassador Steve Williams said. In his view, the steps taken in the last month and a half had increased the confidence of businesses and EU partners in the government and the country.

Crown Agents has made more than 250 recommendations for enhancement of various aspects of the revenue administration since the beginning of Phase I of its current Programme in Bulgaria in 2007. Detailed reports about these recommendations and their implementation status were submitted to the new Minister of Finance, Simeon Dyankov, shortly after he took office. Speaking to the Financial Times and the Bulgarian media he outlined the large number of outstanding recommendations, which are now being reviewed by the Ministry in order to support their implementation.