Interview with Minister Krasimira Stoyanova for “24 Chasa”, conducted by Mariyana Boykova.
There is no deadline for the digitalization of driving courses.
– Mrs. Stoyanova, it is unusual for a minister to appear before the Supreme Administrative Court. You did so in the case following a complaint against the procedure for the 35 trains. What provoked you?
– I appeared for two main reasons. First, the case is extremely important – it is the last instance, and the decision is essentially final. As the head of the Ministry of Transport, I must be in the courtroom, just as with any other matter that is important to the system. It might seem strange to someone who thinks that the minister’s job is to sit in their office, sign documents, and attend meetings of the Council of Ministers. All of this is part of the job, but it is not the only part.
– And the second reason? Why were you the long-standing head of the legal directorate?
– For 22 years I’ve been working as the director of the legal directorate in the ministry and I have appeared for the most important cases. When I agreed to become minister, one of my first thoughts was about the cases I had to see through to completion. And that was simple – the ministry is represented by the minister and it authorize me to take the case to the ministry. To be honest, my extensive legal experience has taught me that adhering to the rules ensures predictability and foresight. I also don’t like to be reactive towards events and always strive, as much as possible, to be proactive and offer solutions. Therefore, do not view my appearance in this case as a precedent, but as respect for the state, and that is very important.
– This isn't an attempt to influence the court, is it?
Absolutely not! This is a conscious desire and decision. I believe I need to finish my work.
– You have important matters for a short term, including the state’s public service contract for railway transport, the purchase of new trains and a postal reform. When will this saga with the new trains end, for example?
– We have halfway closed this saga with the signing of the contract with the company “Škoda” for the 20 electric trains. The European Commission recommends that we finance the purchase of another 5 trains, which are an option in the contract with “Škoda”, by using funds from OP “Transport Connectivity.” This gives us the opportunity, following consultation with colleagues from the Ministry of Finance, to sign an additional agreement with the company for their delivery.
– When?
– I hope by mid-October and I am almost certain we will succeed. “Škoda” is willing to initiate production. Regarding the other 35 trains, we await the court's decision and will react accordingly. The Ministry has serious arguments for a favorable outcome. We hope the relevant procedures will be followed so we can invite the Polish company “Pesa” and sign a contract with them as well. I cannot commit to a timeframe for this. I have decided that during my short term as minister, I will not make empty promises.
– At the end of the year, the state's contract with “BDZ - Passenger Transport” for public services expires. If there isn’t enough time to announce a public procurement for a new contract, what will happen?
– There will be a contract for passenger rail transport. Most likely, it will be extended for a certain period with “BDZ – Passenger Transport.” The regulations allow this for up to two years, but we will probably extend it for one more year. Concurrently, we are working on a procedure for selecting a carrier that is transparent and non-discriminatory.
– Does this mean there is no commitment to the entire network, and it could be divided into lots?
– This, which the state has not undertaken as a commitment, is being introduced through an open tender procedure. Because the regulation provides for the assignment of the service. Bulgaria preferred this option and back in 2009, when “BDZ – Passenger Transport” was selected, it was through an open procedure. The question now is whether it will be divided into lots or cover the entire railway network and that is difficult to answer.
– Is there pressure from Brussels for it to be in lots?
– The European Commission prefers the procedure to be divided into lots. This is their current recommendation. But how it should be is not an administrative, but a political decision. This is even a social issue, because the EU regulation under which the procedure will be conducted, even in lots, provides for the hiring of the people who have up until now serviced the trains on these lines. The question is to make the right political decision after talks with the trade unions. This must happen after an open public debate, but it would not be right to impose a bolder decision without giving it a social element. Currently we have a problem at “BDZ” at the moment with the conditions under which the train drivers and depot staff work.
– The ignition of trains seems to have become a big problem because there are no spare parts. What happened after the debate you initiated about the railways?
– Every week I talk to colleagues from “BDZ.” Everyone was amazed that there were no spare parts because for the last three years they had not received permission to make a procedure for their delivery. I told them that they have full freedom now to do it fully and with good operational reasoning. In the morning, I read the bulletins about incidents and I say to myself: “God saved us today.” The problems have been accumulating for years. It would have been easy if I was able to replace a certain person or team. If this is how the key personnel revolving door worked it would have made us have the best railways in Europe, as well as the post. This doesn't mean we will tolerate neglect. But if everyone gives their best, works diligently and conscientiously, things always work out. This is work, it is not impossible.
– How many of the second-hand German wagons are on the rails?
– I requested several reports, and what I understood is that their delivery procedure is perfectly fine. Only 30 wagons are currently in operation. Just last week, experts from “Deutsche Bahn” came to train “BDZ” staff on how to maintain the German wagons. In other words, progress is clearly slow. We hope that by the end of the year all 76 wagons will be put into operation.
– Are there dangers along the railway lines?
– Colleagues from the National Company "Railway Infrastructure," together with the carriers, are preparing a map of weak spots on the railway lines that are the cause of significant speed reductions. This autumn, the map of these locations has already begun to be strengthened by the company's subdivisions. Work is being done seriously and persistently, hopefully, there will be results very soon.
– What is happening with “Bulgarian Posts” and the reforms announced by them?
– This, which is characteristic of “Bulgarian Posts,” is that it is yet another company that continues to exist solely thanks to funds from the state budget. I say this openly – the moment it receives any kind of problem with the payment of wages to any subordinate branch, neither the members of the board of directors, nor the directors of directorates in the company will receive their salaries.
The state has done a lot for “Bulgarian Posts” and will continue to do so, as it assigns services and pays compensation. Over the years, these have not been received in full. After a plan for restructuring the company was adopted, we immediately started working on the EC notification, which we hope will be realized by October. After the relevant procedures in Brussels are completed, “Bulgarian Posts” will have the opportunity to receive compensation in full. Until then, the state’s commitment is ending and it requires the universal postal service to be provided on time and for pensioners to receive their pensions unhindered, as well as on time.
– Today, driving instructors are protesting against already published changes in two ordinances - for training and exams with a focus on digitalization. There will also be a counter-protest. Did you fail to reach an agreement?
– The issue with the so-called digitalization isn’t something new. In one of their first statements, representatives of driving schools I mentioned that I will not stop digitalization. The ordinance on training, which introduces an electronic card, logbook, etc., has two deferral periods. The first is that the ordinances come into force six months after their promulgation. In the last meeting with colleagues from the driving schools, I say colleagues, because I have been in the ministry for years and have learned a lot from them, I suggested and thought we understood each other, to ask the system developers to be ready by the third month. After that, we test it together with driving school representatives for two months. That way, if there are any problems, they can be eliminated. Besides these six months, there are another five months during which documentation can be kept both on paper and online. I dare to hope that with all driving schools, we will find the best way for communication. Speculating on a subject, I would urge not to fall into conspiracy theories before we see what the system represents and how it works.
I understand the distrust of driving instructors because over the years the “Automobile Administration” was a source of misunderstandings. It is an incorrect approach when something keeps changing constantly, being rolled back. I will not go back on the attitude towards digitalization, because this is inconsistency, and I do not think that what is written in the ordinance is bad.
– Where do you disagree?
– We have no disagreements. Some say we will keep an electronic logbook, others – no. The ministry’s position is clear and I find it correct.
– You have been in the ministry for a long time. Did anything surprise you in the ministerial post?
– Nothing surprised me. In fact, I was surprised by the change in behavior of some people, but this is common in such situations. What I would like to wager on while I am here is expertise. I want to discuss every topic we work on in detail with my colleagues, regardless of how much time it takes me. I am trying to make people in the ministry feel they belong, to have their say before decisions are made.