Bulgaria Snubs Crown Agents Consultancy

The news comes shortly after Minister Simeon Djankov (pictured) explained in a TV interview that the consultancy has been unable to give a proper answer to a query over the widespread corruption in the Bulgarian customs. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria will suspend its contract with Crown Agents, the British company consulting the country's Customs Agency, after it expires at the end of May, the finance ministry officially announced.

The statement, circulated to the media, cites lack of funds as the main reason for the decision.

“The Finance Ministry assesses highly Crown Agents consultancy activities under the present and previous contracts, but would like to inform you that it will not use your services due to a need to reduce budget spending in these times of economic crisis,” reads the letter of Minister Djankov to the head of the consultancy team in Bulgaria John Brown.

The news comes shortly after Minister Simeon Djankov explained in a TV interview that the consultancy has been unable to give a proper answer to a query over the widespread corruption in the Bulgarian customs.

Crown Agents has been providing consultancy services to the Bulgarian government since 2001. All the services they have provided have been directly financed by the Bulgarian government itself.

For many years Crown Agents was a British public corporation. In 1997 it transferred to the private sector as a limited company owned by a new entity, The Crown Agents Foundation.

At the beginning of March Bulgaria’s finance ministry decided to suspend the state contract with Fitch Ratings agency, accusing it of high prices and manipulation of the public opinion.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!