BAS President, Academician Nikola Sabotinov: Scientists may not receive their last salary at the end of the year

Academic Sabotinov, on Friday, it was released that the Bulgarian Academy of Science (BAS) will demand a nearly double increase in the subsidy for 2012 and that currently the administration is facing serious difficulties. What is the reason for this situation?
- This situation resulted from the severely truncated budget of the academy. The subsidy for 2011 is not enough to ensure the normal operation the academy. The subsidy, allocated to BAS amounted to BGN59.7 mln. This budget has to cover the fulfilment of all our tasks and basic functions. We need some BGN72 mln in order to maintain the scientific potential of the academy, which was reduced by nearly 1000 people. You should admit that the money allocated will not allow us to pay the employees’ salaries. This is the first big problem, which we have to deal with. The earmarked budget will cover about 70% of the annual wage bill, the funds for severance and redundancy payments and taxes. The fact is that with the money allocated by the State we are not able even to pay our salaries, but we need further funds for maintenance of the infrastructure.

For all I know the academy has other sources of income. Are these not enough to cover the budget reductions?
- We have earned additional income, completely apart from the budget subsidy. For example, in 2010 we were able to cope with the situation precisely because of these funds. Our situation was extremely severe then. We got the same budget of BGN 59 mln, but we received another BGN 44 mln, under projects funded from EU funds.

What about the dialogue with the Government? Do you have agreement with some of the ministers on lobbying the Prime Minister’s help?
- We have a good dialogue with the Cabinet just because of the Trustees of the academy. It comprises two ministers. We have repeatedly explained to them the problems, which we face. Unfortunately, we fail to reach an agreement with the Ministry of Finance. The administration follows clear directives that once a certain budget has been allocated, it can not be exceeded.

What are the scientists’ salary levels currently? Can these be compared with the remunerations of their European colleagues?
- The average salary in the BAS in 2009 was BGN 628. Now it is BGN 500. Instead of aiming at stability and of boosting the people dealing with science, we make their lives more difficult because of the budget cuts that were imposed on us. We are probably one of the few institutions in Bulgaria, where a drastic decline in the wages of the highly qualified employees, such as all scientists in the BAS are, took place.

Are you not worried that the money would hardly be found at a time of economic crisis?
- The crisis is all over in Europe, but it is enough to look at the state in other countries, in order for a clear difference with Bulgaria to be outlined. For example, the Romanian Academy of Sciences has the same structure as ours, but its budget was reduced by 3%. They are nevertheless unhappy. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is just like the BAS, but their budget was cut by 2.5%. We are talking about a 30% budget reduction in our case. If we compare the funding allocated by the State, the differences are also dramatic.

Once you demand an increase in the subsidy, do you have a proposal where the funds should come from?
- We are accountable to Parliament. This is the institution, which should patronize the academy. In this connection, it is normal for a debate on the financing problems of BAS to be launched there. I think that the State Budget Act should be amended in the part stipulating the BAS financing. A minimum additional subsidy of BGN 20-25 mln should be allocated, so that we would be able to survive until the end of the year.

How will you convince politicians that the BAS was restructured? What will you show them in order to decide on the allocation of more money?
- We are fully prepared to meet the challenges of the Europe 2020 strategy. Our structure involves quality human resources. This was demonstrated after a thorough international assessment, which lasted nearly a year. Then, the EU experts told us that we had a quality human potential, able to develop all scientific fields needed in the country. The experts were amazed how scientists continued to work and contribute to world science in these miserable conditions. The State must simply use this potential for its economic development.

Is there a real chance that you will not be able to pay the scientists’ salaries?
-There is such a possibility. If the demanded minimal additional subsidy will not be approved, it can happen that a wage or a wage and a half will not be paid in all BAS structures. In addition to this, we will face problems with the payments of building repairs and of overhead expenses. We will have to stop working on some major European projects.

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