© Velko Angelov
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Despite reproaches coming from different directions of the political spectrum even before the elections, the ruling party still decided to postpone the payment of fees by the concessionaire at Sofia Airport for 10 years. Such a decision was made at today’s government meeting.
“We are restoring the balance of the concession at Sofia Airport only by postponing annual payments. They are neither forgiven nor reduced. At the same time, this month the state will receive the initial concession fee of BGN 660 million, which are provided in the budget revenue “Transport Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov was quoted as saying by the government’s press service.
So far, it is not clear how these 10 years have been calculated and why the amounts due through them will not be paid until the end of the 35-year contract. For comparison, the concessionaire of the two seaports received a deferral of the fee by 1 year, reminds “Capital”. In addition to the only press conference at the moment, given by the concessionaire, it was understood that the construction of a third terminal will not start immediately (which by contract must be ready by the 10th year), as it is not considered urgent in the current situation, but some repairs will be made to bring the airport closer to European standards, among which the toilets were specifically mentioned.
Rosen Zhelyazkov adds that there is no reason to claim that the amendment harms the state, although the change means deferral of payment to a total of EUR 245 million.
“The only wish of the opponents is to injure or fail this clean, transparent and extremely useful for the state investment,” Zhelyazkov said. He adds as an argument that for 4 months an inspection was carried out by the European Commission.
His words are addressed to yesterday’s call of the BSP leader Cornelia Ninova to “There is such a people”, “Democratic Bulgaria” and “Stand up! Get out!” for a common front against GERB on the occasion of the postponement of fees for the airport concessionaire. For now, however, the people of Maya Manolova and Hristo Ivanov have included the issue in their initiatives, which they intend to propose in the formation of the new parliament.
In his words, Zhelyazkov launched the concessionaire’s thesis about the secured financing – “8 banks, 4 of which are international financial institutions – EBRD, EIB, Black Sea Trade and Development Bank and the World Bank Group,” the minister said.
| “We have signed a concession agreement, which is legally valid and binding. All topics, these, ideas, statements, politicization on the topic of a moratorium on something that is already a fact is legal nihilism and state voluntarism. Whoever wants in the next government can proceeded to terminate the contract with all the consequences of this “, Zhelyazkov announced. |
It threatens that with such a development the state will lose 660 million levs, risks will be created for the implementation of the state budget, and also the largest airport will not be able to be competitive like those in neighboring countries. He added that without a concessionaire in a pandemic situation, the risk of management and operation will remain for the state airport operator, and all EU countries have supported their aviation industries.
He assures that monitoring will be carried out every year and “upon restoration of the economic balance, starting from 2019, the payment of annual salaries will be restored”. Meanwhile, in late October, the state decided to drastically increase airport taxes – just days after the concessionaire proposed not to raise them for 10 years. Thus, both he has fulfilled this commitment, considered an advantage in the selection of a concessionaire, and more revenue is guaranteed.
The intention of the cabinet, realized today, became clear in March. The topic was raised in the height of the parliamentary election campaign by BSP MP Rumen Gechev. He announced that Bulgaria “will drink cold water” because of the direct state support given to the investor in question. The leader of “Democratic Bulgaria” Hristo Ivanov commented that “in the name of the people” Bulgaria is giving up half a billion levs. “The key question is in whose favor the decisions are made. We have started to look at this case in more depth and all our indications show that the Domuschiev brothers are behind the concessionaire at Sofia Airport.” This was commented a few days ago by Ivaylo Mirchev, a candidate from Democratic Bulgaria.
Sof Connect signed the contract with the state in July. Participants in “Sof Connect” are the fund “Meridiam” (Meridiam) and the builder “Strabag” (Strabag) with 1%. The selection of the only candidate, in whose structure there is no airport operator, was appealed by the other four participants in the procedure, and the appeal itself passed quite quickly compared to others through the Commission for Protection of Competition and the SAC, reminds “Capital”.
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