WRITTEN STATEMENT of the Bulgarian Construction Chamber 16 October 2018, Sofia

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, We address to you aiming to express our enormous anxiety and our explicit non-acceptance in respect to the ongoing process during the last year, and yet more distinctive in the last months, when the construction branch was exposed to an unprecedented and malign attacks, behind which are visible political interests. The accusations against construction companies for poor quality and lack of transparency in public procurements have grown into accusations of misappropriate usage of EU funds, they have gone beyond all limits and have even get to an ominous manipulation for connection with the murder of a young woman, a television presenter. Despite the rapid work of the investigating authorities, which resulted with uncovering the crime, in international aspect the negative reaction towards our country was enormous. The unfair accusations do not stop, that Bulgarian companies are building at „high prices, but with awful quality“. These attacks have a grave impact on the prestige and work of construction business, that because of the publicly spread allegations, receives insulting labels. Bulgarian constructors are referred to as „oligarchs, thieves, liars and killers“. Since its establishment and until today, the Bulgarian Construction Chamber and the companies that are its members have always worked, while strictly observing the laws of the Republic of Bulgaria, and our efforts have been directed towards creating a fair and transparent competitive environment and clear rules in our industry. The contests and public procurement procedures are carried out in accordance with the legislative regulations and we do believe that there are enough institutions in our country that can guarantee their legality and transparency. We think that it is unacceptable on the basis of publications without evidence, without having the official opinion of the relevant authorities, to publicly stigmatize leading construction companies, that have built some of most significant infrastructure projects, that are big employers and taxpayers, and to be suspended their participation in public procurement to be suspended. This situation not only creates the tense in the industry, but also it is an exceptionally bad sign for the all potential foreign investor, who would wish to do business in Bulgaria. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, Constructors of Bulgaria are not criminals! We are more than 250 thousand people, who want to work and live in Bulgaria. We want to raise our children here! We want to build, not to destroy. We do not wish to be used for political purposes and for pre-election agitation! So we say that is ENOUGH! BCC will insist for urgent meetings with the President Mr. Rumen Radev, with the President of the National Assembly – Mrs. Tsveta Karayancheva, with the Prime Minister Mr. Boyko Borisov, with the leaders of the parliamentary represented political forces. At these meetings we would want, face to face with Bulgarian state and public, to confute all insinuations and allegations that have been made until now in statements and pronouncements by institutions. The high institutional level always assures wide media coverage, while the systematic accusations propagate within the society a negative attitude to the entire branch. We will express our categorical disagreement with such propaganda and the use of destiny of over 250 thousand builders and their families to accumulate political dividends. We are convinced that a fair political dividend can be obtained only if the state openly talks with us, if it hears and understands our problems and when we together formulate the politics for their resolution, like we had been doing it up to now. In the same way that we bear our responsibility before the public, the controlling and jurisdiction authorities, those who originate and disseminate false and untrue information should be responsible as well. This is to be achieved by changes in legislation and effective and rapid legal proceedings. Currently, the damage caused to the commercial prestige and the reputation of companies, that are pillars for the Bulgarian economy, is not punishable in any way. This fact widely opens the space for manipulations, which is not of interest to those, who are employed in the industry, their families, as well as for their employers. We hope that our message will be heard. If it does not happen, our next move would be to defend our rights in all legitimate ways, including national protest actions. We expect the responsible institutions to initiate a categorical intervention in order to preserve the calmness and predictableness in the industry and to guarantee the supremacy of the law in the Republic of Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Construction Chamber declares it will follow its consistent policy for protecting the interests of its members. Management Board of the Bulgarian Construction Chamber