Ekaterina Zaharieva: We are prepared for all Brexit scenarios
18 January 2019 News
The Bulgarian government is working on three possible Brexit scenarios: exit with a deal and detailed framework for future relations, exit with a deal and only a general framework, and no-deal exit.
This transpired from remarks by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva during Question Time in Parliament as she took a question from MP Kristian Vigenin (Bulgarian Socialist Party for Bulgaria group) about any action plans the government has for the various Brexit options.
“Back in September, we asked all competent ministries to step up work on all possible scenarios, including the worst-case scenario of no-deal Brexit,”said Zaharieva.
A day after the vote in the British Parliament this week, Ekaterina Zaharieva sent a new letter to her colleagues in the government asking them to update and map out the most urgent measures called for by the latest Brexit-related developments.
“We are preparing for all possible scenarios,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva.
She believes that if things come to a no-deal Brexit, trade with the UK will obey the WTO rules. The European Commission is currently holding talks to distribute the quotas. Issues related to road transport and trade in medicines are very sensitive for Bulgaria as well. As for the travel to and from the UK, the matter will be resolved by the European Commission in a common approach. The EU citizens will be able to make short trips to the UK without visas on a reciprocal basis.
The Foreign Ministry has long been working to keep the Bulgarian citizens in the UK aware of their rights after Brexit. The Bulgarian Embassy in London has set up a dedicated section on its website about the new rules for travel to and stay in the UK after Brexit. Six information events were organized for the Bulgarians in the UK in 2018. The Embassy has held two more such events since the start of this year and 20 others are scheduled until mid-2019 across Britain. “In this way we have the most pro-active position possible,” said Zaharieva.
“To be more efficient, we increased the London Embassy staff and the extra staff will be directly involved with Brexit-related matters and the consequences for Bulgarian citizens,” the Minister said. She said that the British side has given assurances that all EU citizens who settled in the UK before the date of Brexit, will keep all their rights unchanged. Zaharieva said that the British citizens and businesses will continue to be welcome in Bulgaria.
“At this stage there are no expectations for large-scale return of Bulgarian citizens from the UK over Brexit but Bulgaria is eager to have back any Bulgarians who decide to return to their home country,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva.