In January 2010 Crown Agents continued with delivery of a number of specialised training events for National Customs Agency (NCA) and National Revenue Agency (NRA) staff, which are aimed at enhancement of the administrations’ capacity to protect state revenue and combat frauds.

Crown Agents delivered the fourth quarterly progress report to the Ministry of Finance.  Crown Agents also delivered the master schedule of recommendations including status reports on the implementation position of each recommendation as at 31st December 2009.

The Advisors delivered two reports to NRA on courses previously delivered and also issued an interim report on a targeted supermarket compliance exercise undertaken in Sofia and Plovdiv.

Crown Agents have submitted a proposal to NRA senior managers that a winter compliance campaign is undertaken in the national ski resorts. This proposal follows on from work already undertaken in this area.

Crown Agents Advisors met with the Ministry of Finance Inspectorate to assist with anti corruption enforcement

Advisors delivered introductory training courses on systems based audit and basic audit techniques to NCA Post Clearance Control Audit staff in Bourgas and Varna.

Advisors also provided advice and guidance to Mobile Assurance Teams (MAT) during two exercises held in Lessevo, Guyeshovo and Kalotina

The Programme Management Council held its third meeting under the current Government in the Ministry of Finance.  Among the areas discussed during the meeting were the Fiscal Crime Coordination Group, Large Excise Taxpayers initiative, Ministry of Finance Inspectorate anti corruption work and MAT work.

The Council previously decided that each month a summary of Crown Agents’ activities will be made public to maintain greater transparency of the Programme for Modernisation of the Bulgarian Financial Administration.