The specific terms and conditions for temporary employment in the Kingdom of Sweden are regulated by the national Swedish legislation. The protection of property and the right to public access and temporary stay in lands that are privately owned are regulated by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Sweden, in the part of the Fundamental Law“Instrument of Government”, Chapter2 “Fundamental rights and freedoms” since 1974 (Allemansrättenin Swedish). The additionalproblems that occur every year with regards to the berries picking, both for EU citizens and non-EU citizens, are solely and fully subjectto the competences of the Swedish state. The decision on what regulatory mechanisms are due to be introduced for foreign nationals coming for blueberries picking is under the jurisdiction of the Swedish government and the responsible institutions.

The situationwith the Bulgarian blueberry pickers in distress in the summer of 2012, which transformed into a serious humanitarian crisis, is an extraordinary act and is alleged to doubts about large groups of people, mostly of Romaorigin, who were purposefully organized and lured by unrealistic promises for easy profit in Sweden. Due to objective circumstances, such as the late start ofthe season and the poor crop of blueberries, they have been abandoned with no finance by the “intermediaries", who brought them in the forests, Northernof Stockholm.

Taking into consideration both the humanitarian aspect of the situation last summer and the large number of Bulgarian citizensin a crisis situation, the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria took a swift decision as an emergency measure for one-off actof allocation of a financial assistance for transporting the people in need back to Bulgaria.

Since summer 2012 up until now, several bilateral meetings were held between representatives of the competent central and local Swedish institutions, with the participation of the Bulgarian Embassy, as well as meetings, organized by the Bulgarian diplomatic mission with representatives of the Bulgarian institutions, such as the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and the National Employment Agency. In cooperation with the competent Swedish authorities, the Bulgarian state has undertaken measures in providing a larger information campaign, which is aimed at bringing a public awareness among those social groups, which were targeted by a particular interest in 2012.

Given the fact that the necessary preventive actions are taken and in relation to respecting the free movement of EU Member States nationals and their right to work within the Union, the possibilities for restrictions of the flow of seasonal workers are limited.

The Bulgarian citizens are well informed in terms of their rights and obligations to free movement within the EU,i.e. having sufficient financial funds to return to Bulgaria in case of travelling abroad.

According to Swedish authorities’ information, this summer the season of berries purchase will begin on July 26^th. It is needed to be taken into consideration that a good harvest is expected, but there arealso enough amounts of frozen fruitsin processing plants’warehouses from the last year, which would reduce the purchase price.

The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Stockholm may provide assistance to Bulgarian citizens, who are in distress in Sweden, in accordance with its legal jurisdiction, as follows:

·                   Provide you with the latest information for the possibilities of returning to Bulgaria;

·                   Provide you with basic information about your rights and the conditions of residence, work, education, social and medical care for Bulgarian citizens in the Kingdom of Sweden;

·                   Issue Temporary Passport for Return to the Republic of Bulgaria in case of damage, theft or loss of Bulgarian identity documents;

·                   The Bulgarian diplomatic and consular representations abroad may assist in providing funds for return of Bulgarian citizens to Bulgaria only if their relatives and/or friends deposit an amount of money in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia.