Bulgaria PM Gives Up Customs, Revenue Agency Merger

Bulgaria's Customs Agency and its National Revenue Agency will not merge into a "super-body", according to comments by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

In a transcript of Wednesday's Council of Ministers session, Borisov is quoted as saying customs officers have started to put in more effort, boosting monthly revenues by BGN 58 M in March compared to the previous months.

Borisov cites his own move to "daunt" the two agencies' managements by tabling a merger proposal as a reason for the improvement.

"We will not look for such a reform today, we will leave them [in piece]," he said.

Earlier in April, Borisov put forward the proposal, which had been made by the previous government as well, saying it was needed after "discouraging" results in the fight against smuggling.

He gave the two agencies an ultimatum to get back to their feet in a week and think of measures to fight smuggling, but did not comment after seven days had passed.

The Customs Agency's reputation was severely tarnished in the end of March after 13 customs officers and 3 border police officials were detained in a special operation to crack down on a smuggling scheme.  

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