Foreign Economy Policy and International Cooperation Directorate has the following functions:
- Develops and conducts the foreign trade policy of the Republic of Bulgaria;
- Works out proposals and participates in the implementation of state policy in the area of bilateral economic relations;
- Participates in the process of preparation, adoption and implementation of the Common Trade Policy of the European Union, coordinates matters in the field of Common Trade Policy of the EU and participates in the meetings of the Trade Policy Committee and other working groups and bodies of the European Council and the European Commission, as well as in the comitology process in the field of Common Trade Policy of the EU;
- Coordinates the preparation of national positions and the participation of the bulgarian state in the bodies of the European Council prepares the meetings of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Council on matters within the scope of the Common Trade Policy; prepares information and proposals for positions in meetings of other bodies of the European council on matters within the perimeter of the competence of the Directorate;
- Сoordinates the preparation of Bulgarian positions in the framework of the EU trade negotiations, the implementation of the obligations under the concluded EU trade agreements and in relation to ongoing reviews or investigations by third countries affecting Bulgaria’s trade policy status; participates in the preparation and implementation of EU legislation in the field of the EU Common Trade Policy; coordinates the fulfilment of the obligations of the Republic of Bulgaria as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and prepares notifications on agreements of the WTO, while ensuring the participation of Bulgaria as a Member State of the European Union in the meetings of the bodies of the WTO, the reform of the WTO, trade negotiations and negotiations with candidate countries for accession to the WTO;
- Coordinates the activity of the Ministry related to the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the preparation and implementation of the National roadmap for future activities in the cooperation of Bulgaria with the OECD; prepares the participation in the meetings of the Interinstitutional coordination mechanism for the negotiations and preparatory activities for the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria to the OECD and the participation of the ministry in meetings of the Council of the OECD on a ministerial level;
- Directs and manages the activities of the inter-ministerial working groups concerning the fulfilment of Bulgaria`s obligations for conducting technical reviews by the Trade Committee and the Steel Committee of the OECD; prepares and participates in the technical reviews, meetings of the above-mentioned bodies of the OECD and the subordinate bodies of the Trade Committee;
- Рarticipates in the negotiation process of agreements for the mutual protection and the promotion of investments by providing opinion on the compatibility of draft bilateral investment agreements with third countries with the relevant European legislation framework and monitors the fulfilment of Bulgaria’s obligations under Regulation (EU) No 1219/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2012 establishing transitional arrangements for bilateral investment agreements between Member States and third countries (OJ L 351, 20.12.2012);
- Рrepares information related to the application of the Common Trade Policy of the European Union including carrying out bilateral visits and meetings on state and governmental level with European member states and third countries; coordinates the preparation of positions on trade policy issues;
- Рrovides opinions on the conformity of the Common Trade Policy of the European union with the rules and requirements of the World Trade Organisation on draft agreements for international cooperation, as well as contracts prepared by other governmental bodies and on the preparation of intergovernmental and interagency agreements, programs, protocols and non-governmental agreements in the area of trade policy, including during their implementation and/or renegotiation;
- prepares information on EU trade policy legislation, applied import and export measures and EU trade arrangements;
- manages and directs the activity of Working Group № 25 “Trade Policy and Foreign Economic Policy” in accordance with the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 85 of 17 April 2007 on the coordination of matters of the European Union by preparing framework positions on topics and files in the area of the common trade policy of the European Union, gives opinions on the compliance of draft legal acts with European legislation framework in the area of trade policy and participates in the preparation of analyses, opinions, positions and guidelines concerning the participation of Bulgaria in the activities of the European institutions;
- participates with its own representatives in the activities of other Council working groups on European matters, established with Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 85 of 17 April 2007 on coordination of European Union matters and other inter-ministerial working groups related to the fulfilment of the Republic of Bulgaria`s obligations within the European Union and the preparation for accession to the OECD;
- participates in the dialogue with non-governmental organizations on trade policy issues; coordinates opinions and positions, including in relation to the introduction and implementation of European regulatory framework;
- prepares opinions and guidelines for Bulgaria`s participation in other international economic organizations and initiatives (UNCTAD, UNIDO, ECE, UN ECOSOC, UNCITAL etc. ) on issues related to the multilateral trade and economic policy and coordinates the of tasks related to the activities of these organizations and other directorates in the Ministry;
- analyses the development of foreign trade with goods subject to trade defence measures or other trade barriers, prepares proposals and the implementation of trade policy of the national internal market;
- cooperates with the Bulgarian Export Insurance Agency SJSC, which participates and facilitates the procedures laid down in articles 9, 10 and 13 of the Export Insurance Act.
- Acts as a national competent authority for the fulfillment of the obligations under Regulation (EU) 2017/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 laying down supply chain due diligence obligations for Union importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas
- Analyses and submits proposals for the state development policy field of foreign for economic and trade cooperation with regions and countries, including through the development of programmes and projects, researches and analyses the economic development and relevant legislation, trade and investment regime of countries;
- prepares proposals for bilateral visits and meetings at government and state level and coordinates the preparation of positions on issues related to external economic cooperation;
- coordinates the preparation of sessions of bilateral intergovernmental commissions for economic cooperation and the meetings of other forms of bilateral or multilateral economic cooperation; ensures the ongoing work and coordinates the fulfillment of the delegated tasks; prepares and conducts the sessions in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant state bodies;
- prepares and implements initiatives for the presentation of the economic opportunities and the export potential of the Republic of Bulgaria; plans and ensures national participation in international exhibitions and forums;
- prepares and conducts negotiations on agreements on economic cooperation and participates in the negotiation process of agreements on mutual promotion and the protection of investments; gives opinions on agreements prepared by other state bodies;
- conducts the functions of the Minister on the establishment of international cooperation and the fulfilment of bilateral agreements according to its competence;
- Coordinates activities for the participation of the Republic of Bulgaria in international economic initiatives;
- works for the establishment of trade and economic cooperation at regional level between local administrations of the Republic of Bulgaria and their counterparts in other countries;
- participates in the dialogue with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on issues related to the development of external economic relations;
- prepares analyses and references on the progress of the bilateral foreign economic relations and provides information to other relevant public bodies and non-governmental organizations concerned; analyses data on the development of trade and opportunities for its further development;
- provides bulgarian producers and exporters and their organizations with information on the economic development, the state of the markets and the regulations governing economic activity in the countries;
- Conducts the operational management of the activities of the of commercial services abroad of the consular representations of the Republic of Bulgaria in different countries and reconciles their working plans and specific tasks related to the implementation of the foreign economic policy of the Republic of Bulgaria;
- proposes and participates in conducting the economic policy and the protection of the trade and economic interests of the Republic of Bulgaria in the host country;
- proposes and organizes events for the realization of the economic priorities of Bulgaria, the expansion of the exports, the attraction of investments and tourists and popularization of the opportunities the Republic of Bulgaria as a reliable economic partner;
- provides information on the economic development, the foreign trade policy and the state of the host country’s domestic market;
- Cooperates in the establishment of relations between public institutions of the Republic of Bulgaria and the host country and in relation to visits of governmental and state delegations concerning economic issues in the host country;
- assists the Bulgarian business community in the implementation of the national trade policy in the domestic market of the host country and facilitates the popularisation of Bulgarian tourism abroad;
- Maintains contacts and exchanges information with trade and economic missions accredited in the Republic of Bulgaria, maintains relations with relevant departments in public institutions and organizations involved in foreign economic relations, while informing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries and public bodies concerned;
- cooperates with the Industrial Center of the Republic of Bulgaria in Moscow on trade and economic issues;
- interacts with the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Bulgarian Investment Agency in the areas of foreign economic cooperation and attracting foreign investors;
- supports the implementation of the policy for development of industrial zones in Bulgaria and cooperates with the national company “Industrial Zones” (SJSC);
- develops and implements the Ministry’s participation in programmes and projects related to the development of the trade economic relations on a bilateral basis;
- participates in the preparation of Ministry’s forecasts and draft budget, as well as in the implementation of the programmes in the programme budget of the Ministry according to its functional competence.