Implementation by Components and Subcomponents

Component Subcomponent Result

A. Customs Administration Institutional Reform 1. Monitoring and review of BCA procedures

1.1. Monitor and refine

productivity indicators enabling international comparisons

Two border stations (Danube bridge BCP and Gyueshevo BCP) and one inland Customs office (Plovdiv CH) were designated to serve as pilot sites for ideas to improve operations. Pilot site objectives were to expedite the processing and release of shipments by introducing more efficient Customs operations and to measure progress through the collection and analysis of performance indicator data. Main pilot site initiatives included: the submission and processing of advance information and Customs declarations;

automated risk analysis; and enhanced physical examination facility.

1.2 Designated border stations and inland customs stations to serve as test sites for ideas to improve operations

An Action Plan for replication of the following three pilot initiatives has been developed:

(i) the expedited procedures for delivery of containers arriving at seaports initiative; (ii) the acceptance of advanced

initiative; and

(iii) the refining the targeting and selectivity process through uniform reporting and analysis of physical examination results initiative. 2. Implementation and

training on new procedures

2.1. Inter-agency awareness and training

(i) liaison with environment authorities:The Ministry of Environment and Waters has designated contact persons for the EMP. The National Customs Agency has assigned an environmental officer for liaison with

environmental authorities;

(ii) training: The compliance with EU standards, in particular regarding the

legislation in the field of hazardous materials and environmental protection at the border stations, was subject of the prepared training plan. -

Training on the CITES and Basel Conventions provisions will also extend the Customs officers competence on international environmental standards and practices. (iii) certification of acceptable practice at

border crossings: On-site inspections have

been carried out at all construction sites, and the results from them recorded in minutes of proceeding?, in compliance with the already existing PIT practice.

(iv) construction: All awarded contracts contain references to the Bulgarian laws including safety. Environmental issues are specifically included in the contractors’ work programs. As required by the Bulgarian regulations related to civil works, documents have been kept at the site until the construction is finished. No violations of the existing legislation have been recorded.

All Works’ completion certificates (Protocol ·15 according to the Bulgarian law), which have been signed for all sites, contain references to the environment protection in confirmation that: (i) no damages to the environment had been caused; and (ii) all materials and products used were with high

quality and were corresponding to the labor safety requirements.

The aforesaid certificates have been signed by a designated committee, which included representatives of the local agencies, responsible for the environment protection. B. Trade Facilitation

Development 1. Strengthening of Private-Public Partnership

1.1 Establish and maintain a regional website to support the program and act as a focal point for trade facilitation

Regional website - elaboration and release of a joint information platform for users

(www.ttfse.org). To define and build the platform, regional coordination meetings have been repeatedly organized. The website, regionally designated and maintained, provides information on the requirements of many border agencies in Southeast Europe. The website has been upgraded now allowing the website coordinators to view the work in progress during development. The acceptance tests have been successfully performed and the website has been launched to the users and general public.

2. Improvement of the performance of trade facilitation agents

2.1. Expert services and training BULPRO and the National Centre for

Vocational Training (NCVT) have successfully completed the three-year training program. BULPRO and NCVT have also started trade facilitation training in the Association of Balkan Chambers (ABC) Academy. BULPRO has published the Guide for Crossing

Bulgarian Borders which provides for full information on legislation and related documents that in particular concern passengers, traders and legal entities. C. Improvement of

Bulgarian Integrated Customs Information System (BICIS)

1. Exchange program 1.1. Regional experience sharing program

Working group on exchange of information has been established, according to

Recommendation of the National TTFSE Coordinators, done at the sixth RSC meeting (2002), and the follow-up of the seventh RSC meeting (2003).

Several bilateral meetings between IT experts of the BCA and Customs administrations of neighboring countries took place to discuss

technical aspects of data exchange via electronic means.

D. Improvement of Border Crossing Facilities

1. Gyueshevo BCP 1.1 Administration building for Customs and Border Police

90% of the works have been completed, including the administration building, facility building, the pedestrian and four control booths, part of the paving, fencing and canopies. The Ministry of Finance will complete remaining part of the works after closing of the Project and with state budget funds.

1.2 Paving and fencing 1.3 Canopies

1.4 Control booths

1.5 Public facility buildings 1.6 Site utilities

1.7 Pedestrian control booth and supplementary works

2. Vidin BCP 2.1 Additional lane and fencing (Vidin I phase)

Additional lane for widening of the lane processing area at the Vidin-Ferry BCP has been built. Works comprise construction of an additional lane, retaining wall, site lighting, fencing with barriers and storm drainage as well.

Completed in November 2003. 2.2 New canopies and control

booths, reconstruction of existing administration building, site utilities (Vidin II phase)

The second phase of the improvements at the Vidin-Ferry BCP includes reconstruction of the existing administration building and its

supplemental canopies, construction of two new canopies for entry and exit traffic as well as of a law voltage cable network. In addition, new control booths have been built up and situated along the third traffic lane, a new transformer, ramp, disinfection facility, barriers and other site utilities have been constructed as well.

Completed in December 2004. 2.3 Customs office and truck

terminal, comprising

administration building, heavy vehicle detailed inspection building, parking areas, water supply and drainage, electrical

The third phase of the improvements at Vidin includes construction of a new Customs office and truck terminal for the needs of the Vidin Customs, as follows:

utilities, fencing and etc. (Vidin III phase)

trucks, administration building with adjoining part for detailed Customs inspection of cars, parking lots, site utilities and lighting, fencing, step-down transformer and diesel generator, waste water treatment facility, check point, etc. Completed in mid September 2005.

3. Rousse BCP 3.1 Administration building for passport and visa control for the needs of the Border Police

Administration building for the Border Police with adjoining approach

Completed in December 2003. 3.2 Site utilities and additional

works 4. Kapitan Andreevo

BCP

4.1 Canopy repairs The renovation and modernization of the major border station facilities consists of repair of existing canopies and three buildings (including painting, replacements and repairs of canopy boards, lighting and utilities); overhaul and reconstruction of an existing building and its transformation into a building for detailed Customs inspection; construction of a new canopy with control booths, etc.

Completed in August 2005. 4.2 Building repairs

4.3 Canopy and booths 4.4 Warehouse reconstruction 4.5 Heating and electrical repairs

5. Kulata BCP 5.1 Administration building New Customs terminal and warehouse facility has been built at the Kulata border crossing. Works comprise reconstruction of three existing buildings into an inspection building and two warehouses, as well as construction of a new administration building, parking area and truck terminal, water supply and drainage lines and other utilities.

The terminal was completed in February 2004. In addition, some supplementary reconstruction works have been carried out, and in June 2004 an existing building was reconstructed into a Café and lunch edifice.

5.2 Inspection building

5.3 Truck terminal parking area 5.4. Utilities

Edifice and Chilling Chamber” 6. Bourgas BCP 6.1 New container inspection

terminal

The construction of a new facility for detailed Customs inspection of containers on the territory of the container terminal - port Bourgas, comprising a main building, site adjustment, roads and utilities was completed in May 2005.

7. Technical assistance 7.1. Supervision of civil works at Rousse and Vidin I and II phase

Completed

7.2. Supervision of civil works at Kulata BCP

Completed 7.3 Supervision of civil works at

Gyueshevo and Kapitan Andreevo BCPs

Completed

7.4 Supervision of civil works at Bourgas BCP

Completed 7.5 Supervision of civil works at

Vidin III phase

Completed E. Program and Project

Implementation

PIT staffing, FMS

establishment, PIT training, procurement consultant to PIT, consulting services for audit

Completed