The relocation of the three maritime administrations ignites a war between the cities of Varna and Burgas

The plans of the GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) government to move the maritime state structures ignited a real war between the cities of Varna and Burgas. Three maritime agencies, including the Executive Agency (EA) Maritime Administration (EAMA), EA Fishery and Aquaculture (EAFA) and the State Enterprise Port Infrastructures (SEPI) were the focus of the debate. According to preliminary plans, released by a national daily newspaper, EAMA must be relocated to Burgas, while EAFA should be moved to Varna. SEPI, in turn, is to be transferred to the city of Rousse.

In an interview for Klassa daily, however, the Mayor of Burgas and member of the GERB management, Dimitar Nikolov announced that the controversial relocation of the agencies to his city had already been under discussion. Later, in an interview for the Standard daily, he announced that, as a result of the relocation of the three agencies, Burgas must become the new maritime capital of Bulgaria. "I respect highly my colleague Dimitar Nikolov, who is an experienced and very ambitious young man. Over recent years, he has implemented many reforms and accomplished achievements to the benefit of Burgas, but we must not forget that we can also offer our advantages," commented for Klassa daily another member of the GERB management, the MP from Varna and district party leader Pavel Dimitrov. According to him, after the completion of the Hemus highway in 2014, along with the concession of the Black sea ports, Varna will continue to act as a major maritime centre of Bulgaria.

According to Dimitrov, there will be a party-level discussion of the proposals for decentralisation in the very near future. So far, no final decisions have been made and all other assumptions are mere speculation.

The most important criteria are relocation costs and cadres

Based on the criteria already announced by Deputy Prime Minister Djankov, the major ones are relocation costs and the availability of suitable cadres.

EAMA has its own large building in Varna (the former House of Transport Workers), which has undergone major repairs. It even has its own movie theatre. EAMA,Varna, is located in the centre of marine and transport business clusters. The Port of Varna, as well as the Navigation Maritime Bulgare, the railway station, the sea passenger station, along with the Transport hospital, the regional department of the Customs Agency and the Bulgarian Register of Shipping are all located within a distance of 500 metres. The Navy General Headquarters is located only 50 metres away, which means that the eventual relocation of the Agency will improve coordination when carrying out search and rescue operations.

In Varna, there are several universities, and the Higher Naval School and the Technical University of Varna carry out the training of specialised cadres precisely in the field of maritime navigation, as well as that aimed at servicing the maritime administration.

However, Burgas has been the centre of industrial fishing for many years. It is not per chance that the Church holiday of St. Nikolay - the Patron Saint of fishermen, was selected as the official holiday of the city. Fishing there continued after the closing down of the business entity Ocean Fishing, whose management was located in Burgas at the time of the communist regime. The only vocational technical school specialising in fisheries in Bulgaria is also located there. The natural importance of the city as a major fishing centre was also recognised by the competitors from Varna, after both the public and the business sector of the city appealed to the GERB government to move the EA Fishery and Aquaculture (EAFA) to Burgas.

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