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The Greek tax administration is too ambitious if it thinks that it will be able to unravel within three months transactions with volumes of nearly 3 billion euro. This law will simply cause delays. For us, as people who are engaged in trade and who know the financial practices and tax administration, including that of Bulgaria, this is probably done in the secret hope of raising funds in the form of a credit for the financial balance of Greece, which is in a difficult situation. But this is not the proper way, because such concentrations of funds that otherwise would have worked for the economy of Bulgaria and especially of Greece will hamper companies' development. Thus, the crisis will worsen and the spiral will not uncoil in the direction opposite to the increase in turnover but to that of revenues.

Has the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce established contact with the Greek government or the Embassy of Greece in Sofia to express its position on the tax?

Our collective body has issued a decision under which today we will inform not only the Greek Embassy ​​but also other European Embassies and European institutions. We needed some time to analyze the law itself after its release, do some calculations and undertake a comparative review to determine what I have already said, namely that this is not a traditional way of raising funds from companies involved in trade between the two countries.

Incidentally, the law also affects Cyprus and Ireland and it will therefore accumulate negative effects for Greece. That is, it itself will be the biggest loser.

Are some countermeasures considered in Bulgaria?

Honestly there are many such voices but BCCI is not one of those institutions that wish to worsen the relations in some way, because if we take countermeasures, I do not know how well they will be considered and whether they will not be of a greater amplitude than those of Greece. This would cause new countermeasures on the part of Greece.

I do not consider this scenario, because it is unacceptable for the European Union, but if we take that path, very soon we will turn from countries with trade transactions amounting to nearly 3 billion euro into countries that do not know their economies. This is not the objective. In the European Union, we must take action to free the market, maintain the equal treatment of companies, regardless of which EU member state the good or service comes from, and open national economies to free the movement of goods, services, capital and people.

How has the economic crisis in Greece affected Bulgarian - Greek business relations? Is there a decline in some sectors?

We cannot accept that the crisis could have an impact so quickly, nor do we talk about the fact that the imposition of the tax is a consensus policy of Greece in order for it to affect Bulgarian - Greek relations. We look at Greece as one of the most important investors in Bulgaria and such temporary things generally could not and should not affect our relations in a strategic plan. To the contrary, we must take measures, and I think there are already such both on the part of the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Union of Entrepreneurs in Greece, which negatively assess this step.

Of course, we are obliged and we will have to inform the international organizations, including the International Chamber of Commerce and the Association of European Trade Chambers. This is not to the detriment of our Greek partners because as I have said they also believe that this action does not contribute towards the development of economic relations.

Because we keep good records of history at BCCI, we can rewind the tape and see that the crisis and the problems with the balance of payments are not happening for the first time in Greece. There is information that this happened back in 1896-97 too. In other words, the current situation is not an isolated case.

I hope that Greece will come out of this economic situation because the Greek economy has many investments abroad and it is not an economy that can easily surrender. Therefore, I look at things optimistically, believing that Greece will overcome these temporary deviations from best practice and will again become a regular payer and a good destination for foreign investment.

In which areas do you think there is potential to further develop business relations between Bulgaria and Greece?

The lines are two. There are areas that overlap in terms of production . These are the larger part of agricultural products, but not all. Competing closely, the two economies are becoming stronger, and the producers more competitive. Otherwise, we have benefited from the fact that Greece delivers quality products, such as citrus and other crops that cannot grow in Bulgaria, at good prices and is therefore a desired partner.

There are industrial products too. We are competitive in the field of pharmacy. The automotive parts industry has recently developed as well as the processing of products, and there are no significant differences in the methods of processing of agricultural products. This is a complement and good coexistence, and a possibility for citizens of both countries to have a wider range to choose from when they want to satisfy their needs.