site.btaForeign Ministry Seeks Mechanisms to Ensure Arrival of Workers from Third Countries

"Working mechanisms are sought to ensure the smooth arrival of third-country workers in Bulgaria. These measures may include the conclusion of bilateral agreements with specific countries," Deputy Foreign Minister Maria Angelieva said during a meeting with the President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Tsvetan Simeonov and the President of the Bulgarian-Uzbek Friendship Association Toshko Krastev, which took place on Friday at the Foreign Ministry, the ministry's press service reported.

The three discussed the challenges Bulgarian employers face in attracting workers from third countries and issuing long- and short-term visas.  Simeonov said that the Foreign Ministry can count on his support to find solutions both in the interest of the employers' organizations and for the benefit of the Ministry, in particular finding a permanent staffing solution to secure the consular services involved in issuing work and tourist visas.

"The Foreign Ministry continues to make every effort to achieve full membership in the Schengen area and strictly implements the requirements of European legislation on the procedure for processing visa applications, as well as the acceptance and review of the entire set of required documents to be presented by each applicant for a Schengen visa," Deputy Minister Angelieva pointed out, adding that the Ministry has already taken concrete actions to ensure the minimum necessary human resources in the busiest consular missions.

At the end of the meeting, the participants agreed that a good basis has been laid for continued cooperation to overcome the existing challenges of recruiting third-country workers.