Follow up: US Tariffs – Legal Framework and International Implications

On 28 May 2025 BBCC in collaboration with Kambourov & Partners, hosted a comprehensive webinar on “U.S. Tariffs – Legal Framework and International Implications.” The event provided attendees with in-depth analyses of the legal foundations of U.S. tariff policies and their far-reaching effects on global trade dynamics.

Dennitsa Dimitrova, Managing Partner of Kambourov & Partners – Tax Consulting, shared her extensive experience in international taxation and provided a legal perspective on the imposition of tariffs. Sergey Srebrev, Manager of Indirect Tax and Global Trade at Kambourov & Partners, offered insights into the practical implications of tariffs on global trade operations and compliance. Special thanks to them for sharing their expert knowledge. You can find the presentation here.

Organize an energizing team event in the cool embrace of the Rila Mountains with views towards the peaks. Just 70 km from Sofia, the Hotel Rila, Borovets team is ready to welcome you with attractive conditions for corporate events this July and August.

Periods with preferential terms:
1-9, 13-16, 18-23, 27-31 July 2025, as well as
09-12 and 24-31 August 2025.

For groups of at least 50 rooms:
– Special  rates for single and double room accommodation 
– Complimentary use of a conference hall
– 50% discount on technical equipment rental

Available dates fill up quickly – book right away!

Contact Hotel Rila, Borovets today at +359 750 900 06.

Early enquiries receive an additional bonus – reach out to Hotel Rila, Borovets for more details!

Information and key issues from the UK-EU Summit

UK-EU summit 2025 – Joint Statement

• First in series of annual UK-EU summits across the full spectrum of UK-EU relationships at leaders’ level – the first since Brexit.​
• Joint Statement from summit announces new Strategic Partnership between the UK and EU – an ambitious, dynamic relationship.​
• Creates a new forum to evaluate the broader bilateral relationship and how the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and other UK-EU agreements are operating.​
• Other high-level contact to take place regularly on foreign affairs and security, the economy and trade, justice and home affairs.

UK-EU summit 2025 – The Deal

Two key elements:

• Security and Defence Partnership – facilitates closer co-operation and, through secondary agreements to be negotiated, new common procurement opportunities for defence companies.​
• Common Understandings document – framework paving the way to a series of agreements on reducing trade barriers, co-operation on food safety, energy co-operation, youth experience, climate, borders and migration, wider co-operation and exploration of further steps.

Common Understandings – Summary

• Both parties to proceed swiftly on the undertakings made within the document.​
• Acknowledges the accompanying political agreement to extend current fisheries access of EU boats to UK waters until mid-2038.​
• TCA to be amended to reflect this change in duration.​
• Breach of the fisheries terms would be subject to dispute resolution processes within the TCA, which could mean tariffs ultimately levied for breaches of key provisions of the Agreement.​
• Places Title VIII of the TCA (energy market access and co-operation) on a permanent basis. This was due to expire in mid-2026.
• Agreement in principle to move swiftly to negotiate deals in the following areas:​
• Common sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) area – removing food and plant product paperwork and checks on vast majority of products moving between GB and EU on a non-time limited basis.​
• Emissions trading scheme linkage – deal to be reached to ensure carbon border adjustment mechanism obligations, on each side, will fall away for goods in scope moving between both markets.​
• Youth experience scheme – providing young people with time-limited visas to access a reciprocal, capped scheme offering the opportunity to work, live and study in each other’s territory.​
• Erasmus+ associate membership – UK to negotiate to rejoin this scheme.
• Moving swiftly to improve co-operation in the following key areas:​
• Competition policy co-operation (agreement due to be signed on co-operation)​
• Europol co-operation​
• EU Drugs Agency Co-operation

Common SPS Area:

• Negotiate an SPS agreement to apply to UK in respect of Great Britain (GB)​
• Northern Ireland (NI) will continue under Windsor Framework arrangements for trade in food and plant products.​
• Swiss-style agreement between UK and EU covering sanitary rules, phytosanitary rules, food safety, pesticides, organics, consumer protection rules applicable to production, distribution and consumption of foods and plant products.​
• Means removal of requirements for export health certificates, veterinary signatures, border control posts, associated checks, common user and port charges, delays in agri-food and plant product exports in both directions for vast majority of food and plant products.​
• Same benefits will apply in respect of GB to NI food and plant product movements on full implementation of the UK-EU SPS Agreement.​
• Will also permit exports of chilled sausages, shellfish and bivalve molluscs from GB to EU.
• Dynamic alignment: GB will align on a timely basis with EU food safety legislation, within the common area, through immediate application of relevant new and amended EU rules.​
• Exceptions: SPS agreement intended to create short list of carve-outs, perhaps encompassing gene editing. This is as long as these do not give rise to lower standards compared with EU rules, nor negatively affect EU goods or animals placed on the market in GB. Any such agreements must also recognise that only compliant products may enter the EU.​
• Potential issues: what impact would any exception have on the UK internal market given NI will not have a carve-out, and complications around labelling of products.​
• No direct effect of EU rules in GB: UK Parliament will transpose rules which apply in GB.​
• Enforcement: arbitration panel to resolve any disputes between both sides, with recourse to European Court of Justice only on legal issues. Such rulings would be binding upon the tribunal. UK to be involved in relevant EU agencies, systems and databases.​
• Consultation: UK to be involved in consultations at an early stage on new policy and legislative proposals in this area from the European Commission.​
• Costs: Appropriate financial contribution from UK to costs of policy work done by the European Commission in this area.​
• BCC position: Clear win for exporters and importers alike. Four years of research, policy and advocacy work from the BCC on this issue. Aston University research indicates UK food and drink exports could increase by more than 20% under such an Agreement.

Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Linkage

• Commitment to work towards linking the UK and EU ETS as soon as possible through negotiated agreement (likely over coming months).​
• Still to be determined whether EU CBAM legislation will apply to NI under Windsor Framework or not.​
• Agreement to cover all areas; to avoid risk of carbon leakage or competitive distortions, including electricity generation sectors, industry, industrial heat generation (excluding in individual heating of houses), domestic and international maritime transport, domestic and international aviation. ​
• Process to be developed to allow for further expansion of sectors covered by linkage agreement.​
• Dynamic alignment: UK will dynamically align with all EU rules relating to the functioning of the ETS link. Means UK CBAM legislation and scheme will need to align with the EU’s. UK cap to be at least as ambitious as that of the EU. UK reduction pathway to be at least as ambitious as that of the EU – could go higher, but not below EU pathway.

ETS Linkage

• Enforcement: arbitration panel to resolve any disputes between both sides, with recourse to European Court of Justice only on legal issues. Such rulings to be binding upon the tribunal. UK to be involved in relevant EU agencies, systems and databases.​
• Consultation: UK to be involved in consultations at an early stage on new policy and legislative proposals in this area from the European Commission.​
• Costs: Appropriate financial contribution from UK to costs of policy work done by the European Commission in this area.​
• BCC position: Clear win for exporters in sectors like steel, aluminium, hydrogen, electricity. CBAM obligations on quarterly reporting and liability for up to £800m in potential charges, from January 2026 between the UK and EU, will fall away under linkage. Consideration of market changes should be evidence based. BCC has advocated linkage for more than 2 years.

Youth Experience Scheme

• Both parties to work towards balanced youth experience scheme – terms to be negotiated.​
• Would cover following activities: work, studies, au-pairing, volunteering, travelling.​
• Time limited under a dedicated visa path. Numbers capped and agreed by both parties.​
• BCC position: Support – document echoes BCC language. Want to engage with both sides on specific terms, charges, costs and opportunities.

Erasmus+ Associate Membership

• UK and EU to negotiate UK associate membership of Erasmus+ Union policy on reciprocal engagement in exchanges, education, skills, training, youth and sport.​
• Objectives of Erasmus+: ​
• to promote learning mobility of individuals and groups, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion and equity, excellence, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of education and training.​
• to promote non-formal and informal learning mobility and active participation among young people, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of youth.​
• to promote learning mobility of sport staff, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of sport organisations and sport policies.​
• Specific terms, including mutually agreed financial terms and extent of participation, to be negotiated in order to ensure a fair balance on the contributions of and benefits to the UK. 

Competition Policy Co-Operation

• Agreement on competition policy co-operation to be signed.​
• Technical negotiations concluded in October 2024 for a competition cooperation agreement, involving dialogue and co-operation between competition regulators in the EU and UK.​
• Will involve notification of major merger investigations, co-ordination of investigations in both jurisdictions where necessary, and avoiding conflicts.​
• Council of European Union now has the proposals from the European Commission (as of 20 May 2025) for approval to sign and conclude the agreement. ​
• Deal will come into effect once ratification by both sides is complete.

Europol Co-Operation

• Seeking better implementation on police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters and fully using scope of the TCA.​
• Ensure pending arrangements for greater co-operation between the UK and Europol are finalised swiftly.​
• Europol and UK National Crime Agency to be encouraged to increase co-operation on framework of analysis projects and operational action plans within the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats.​
• Co-operation on mutually beneficial exchange of information related to terrorism and other serious crimes.
• Reinforce mutual and reciprocal exchanges of data on fingerprints, DNA, and criminal records of third country nationals.​
• Explore extending the exchange of data to facial images for the prevention, detection and investigation of criminal offences.​
• Examine difficulties in obtaining data from electronic communication and other relevant service providers in each other’s jurisdiction and explore potential solutions.

EU Drugs Agency Co-Operation

• UK and EU agree desirability of reciprocal exchange of information between the EU Drugs Agency and the UK on drugs risks and threats.​
• UK/EU propose the EU Drugs Agency and the relevant United Kingdom authorities conclude a working arrangement to meet those objectives.

Additional Areas for Co-Operation

• Maritime security and safety – enhanced co-operation on ship and port facility security, maritime safety and accident reporting, maritime cyber security, security aspects of maritime autonomous surface ships, International Maritime Organisation security initiatives.​
• Development and Disaster co-operation – deepen development and humanitarian response co-operation.​
• Health – exchanges and co-operation – on emerging health threats, to prevent and mitigate against future pandemics and health crises, health security, chemical and biological security.​
• Cultural and Linguistic exchanges – continue to support but no confirmation of agreement on touring artists and ability to enter without a visa. This could be linked with other areas for subsequent negotiation. ​
• Borders and eGates – continue co-operation, including potential use of eGates where appropriate. No legal barrier on UK nationals using EU member states eGates but will need follow up discussions on implementation and timing of changes at airports and ports.​
• New energy technology regulation – continued technical regulatory exchanges on new energy technologies such as hydrogen, carbon capture, utilisation and storage and biomethane.​
• Recognition of professional qualifications – establish dedicated dialogues on entry and temporary stay of natural persons for business purposes, including the sponsorship scheme, and recognition of professional qualifications.​
• Mutual Legal Assistance – intensify technical work, in the relevant Specialised Committee, to further streamline co-operation on mutual legal assistance.​
• Migration co-operation (including Agencies) – further action to tackle people smuggling and to deepen information sharing to control and manage migration at external borders. Increased mutual sharing of information, country expertise and analysis, to enable better coordination. Joint working in international fora. Enhanced UK cooperation with Europol and the European Migrant Smuggling Centre.​

Explore Possibilities for Further Agreements

• UK participation in Security Action For Europe (SAFE) – swift exploration of potential for UK participation in the enhanced €150bn co-operation on defence procurement fund, under the forthcoming SAFE instrument. Scale of UK access would have to be negotiated in any secondary agreement between both sides. Likely this will involve financial contribution from the UK.​
• UK participation in EU internal energy market – explore scope for UK participation in the EU internal electricity trading market, including the EU’s trading platforms. Any agreement would need to cover the new relationship, state aid, renewables, and environmental protection. The agreement would involve dynamic alignment, and consultation in relevant policy areas.​
• Security and judicial co-operation – agency co-operation and information exchange​
• Visa abuse exchanges – exchanging analysis on visa abuse by third country nationals.

Security and Defence Partnership

• Agreement recalls common responsibilities of the UK and EU for European security.​
• Agenda also includes cyber and hybrid security threats, space, and resilience of critical infrastructure.​
• Cyber and counter-terrorism dialogues between UK and EU established under the TCA.​
• New Partnership facilitated by dialogue and consultation to facilitate information exchange, steering and oversight.​
• 6 monthly meetings (and potential invitations to other high-level meetings including the Council of the European Union) between UK Foreign and Defence Secretaries and the EU High Representative for strategic discussions on Russia and Ukraine, Western Balkans, Indo-Pacific region and hybrid threats.​
• Dedicated annual Defence and Security Dialogue.​
• Exchanges and close co-operation on regional security issues, peace building and crisis management, maritime security, space, cyber and counter-terrorism.
• Both sides seek to build upon the Partnership agreement to quickly explore possibilities for mutually beneficial enhanced cooperation created by the SAFE EU instrument on defence.​
• SAFE legislative framework is expected by be in place by mid-June 2025.​
• Secondary legally binding agreement will be required to provide UK access to SAFE.​
• €150bn of loans and guarantees for EU rearmament. ​
• Secondary agreement could provide access to consortia arrangements for procurement between EU member states and third countries with defence and security agreements with the EU.​
• Scale of any UK access would have to be determined by negotiations.

BCC Insights Unit Research – 2024

• Two fifths (41%) of UK exporters disagree the Brexit deal is helping them grow sales. Conversely, only 14% of UK exporters think the deal is helping.​
• Companies say the biggest barriers to exporting to the EU are customs procedures and documentation (45%), export documentation (39%), regulations and standards (35%) and tariffs (33%).​
• Awareness of upcoming changes in trade rules and regulations being made by either the UK or the EU are also alarmingly low, with more than three quarters of firms knowing no details of much of the legislation.     

BCC Priorities for UK-EU Reset

• BCC TCA Four Years On: A Manifesto to Reset UK-EU Trade (December 2024)​
• 14 recommendations tailored for the 2025 reset of UK relations with the EU including trade and economic partnerships.​
• Cover areas such as SPS, VAT, safety and security declarations, PEM Convention, business and youth mobility, regulatory co-operation.​
• Underpinned by Insights Unit research from 1,300 business responders.​
• Shared with DBT, HMT, Cabinet Office.​
• Read by Ministers, advisers and officials across Government. Gave evidence to EU27 Ambassadors on report in February 2025.​
• Paymaster-General Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP and EU Ambassador Pedro Serrano attended BCC Business Council meeting on 15 May 2025.

BCC Key Messages from Summit

• Welcome the successful summit – marks a turning point in UK/EU relations and business supports that in terms of trade, plus co-operation on energy, defence, and security. A win-win outcome benefitting businesses and economic growth for both sides.  ​
• Support the Security and Defence Partnership and the new opportunities for co-operation. Now we need to build upon this to ensure UK defence companies can provide the hardware to meet European defence procurement needs going forward. This can be done through involvement in mechanisms like the €150bn SAFE venture – a win-win on defence.​
• Deal meets key priorities the Chamber Network has called for over the last four years. A reduction in red tape for exporting goods, easier business travel, a balanced youth mobility scheme, and linkage of our Emission Trading Schemes to ensure stronger energy co-operation and no new barriers to trade.​
• Now both sides need to negotiate the final agreements and implement them.  

BCC Success from Summit

Top 7 objectives for the UK-EU Leaders’ Summit on May 19 were:  ​

1. Negotiate a UK-EU deal which either eliminates or greatly reduces the complexity of exporting food and plant products for SMEs.    ​
2. Produce a balanced Youth Mobility scheme between the UK and EU, covering school visits and exchanges, and a time-limited ability to work for young people.  ​
3. UK to rejoin the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) convention to align rules on raw materials and components that can be used in exports without incurring tariffs.
4. Establish a supplementary deal, like Norway’s with the EU, that exempts smaller UK firms from the requirement to have a fiscal representative for VAT in the EU.   
5. Make a deal to allow UK firms to travel and work for longer in the EU and vice versa, and provide mutual recognition of professional qualifications.       ​
6. Link the Emissions Trading Schemes of the UK and EU to avoid charges on carbon embedded in exports in both directions.   ​
7. Negotiate a formal Defence and Security Pact providing clear lines of co-operation and secondary agreements. Allowing UK companies to bid for defence procurement contracts in the EU, in consortia with EU partner companies on a ‘pay to play’ basis.  

​We secured or made substantial progress on FIVE out of our SEVEN top objectives.

What’s Next?

• BCC Trade Survey (Summer 2025)​
• BCC TCA at 5: Policy and Insights publication (December 2025)​
• UK and EU to reach agreements on SPS, ETS linkage, youth experience and associate membership of Erasmus+​
• Ratify and implement agreement on Competition Co-operation​
• Finalise timeline for implementation of Entry/Exit Scheme and usage by UK nationals of eGates at EU borders.​
• Windsor Framework next stage of implementation on food movements (1 July 2025)​
• Full EU CBAM rollout to be completed by 1 January 2026. UK CBAM due to be introduced in January 2027. EU Deforestation Regulation due to apply from end of 2025 for larger companies.​
• Next UK-EU summit (mid-2026)

British Council is pleased to present thier summer offer of intensive English courses, for children and teenagers, and for adults. Whether you want to improve your everyday communication, prepare for an exam or help your children improve their English before the new school year, you will find a suitable course.

Summer intensive courses for adults:

General English
Two three-week sessions (23.06–11.07 and 14.07–01.08), Monday–Thursday evenings.
Online or in person in Sofia – 7 Krakra Street and in Business Park Sofia.

Conversational English
Three two-week online sessions (start: 23.06, 07.07, 21.07), Monday–Thursday evenings.
Focus on confident speaking and pronunciation.

IELTS preparation
Online or in-person. Choose between a 32-hour (in-person) or 18-hour (online) program.
Start on 23.06, 07.07 and 21.07.

Summer courses for children and teenagers:

• Courses for preschoolers (4-7 years old) and teenagers (12-17 years old) – half-day program (morning or afternoon).
• Courses for school-age children (8-11 years old) – full-day program with lunch and LEGO projects!
• Exam preparation – special summer courses for excellent results.

The courses start on June 23 and are held in Sofia – 7 Krakra Street and Sofia Business Park.

British Council is offering discounts for all students who book more than one session.

Learn more and reserve your place:

Adults: https://www.britishcouncil.bg/english/adults/summer-intensive
Children and Teenagers: https://www.britishcouncil.bg/english/children/summer

PwC’s Academy is thrilled to invite you to their upcoming advanced courses designed to enhance your project management capabilities. PwC’s Academy has prepared 3 programmes that are coming up: 

• PMP Exam Preparation Course – Starts on 16 June 

Designed for those ready to pursue the gold standard in project management certification. The comprehensive prep course ensures you’re equipped to tackle the PMP exam and demonstrate your ability to manage projects efficiently, making you an asset to any organisation. 

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) – Starts on 23 June 

Ideal for those at the beginning of their project management career. The CAPM provides recognition to practitioners who are new to project management, offering a clear understanding of the fundamental knowledge, terminology, and processes of effective project management. 

• PRINCE2 Foundation – Starts on 7 July 

Dive into one of the most popular project management methodologies globally. PRINCE2 offers a structured approach that can be tailored to any project, ensuring efficient management and delivery. Perfect for those looking to solidify their understanding of process-driven project management. 

Each of these programmes is crafted to enhance your skill set, broaden your career prospects, and support your journey towards becoming a distinguished project management professional.   

To learn more about each course, please visit the link. Spaces are limited, so don’t miss your opportunity to secure a spot! 

If you have any questions, or require further information about any of the courses contact PwC’s Academy at: bg_pwcacademy@pwc.com  

The company installs equipment at AbilixSoft’s ACDC data center, combining a strategic location with cutting-edge infrastructure

Global connectivity provider and IT asset manager Neterra has announced the opening of a new Point of Presence (PoP) in Varna, Bulgaria. The PoP is located in the modern ACDC data center, owned and operated by local tech company AbilixSoft.

By installing its equipment at the facility, Neterra now delivers its full range of services directly from Varna. It ensures redundant connectivity through two independent routes, guaranteeing high reliability and service continuity. This move responds to growing demand and multiple client requests for high-speed, secure, and redundant connectivity along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

The new PoP gives businesses and service providers in the region direct access to Neterra’s global network and a wide range of telecom solutions. It also serves as an important hub for internet traffic exchange via NetIX – Neterra’s global Internet Exchange platform that connects content providers, ISPs, and organizations worldwide.

“Expanding our network in Varna is a key step toward being closer to our clients and meeting their needs for quality connectivity in this fast-developing region,” said Dean Belev, Senior Product Manager “Connectivity and NetIX” at Neterra. “Our partnership with AbilixSoft and the use of their reliable ACDC data center allow us to ensure the high quality and security of our services.”

“The presence of a global provider and IX like Neterra is an excellent opportunity for ACDC’s clients to receive high-quality Bulgarian and international connectivity,” commented Alexander Minchev, CEO of AbilixSoft. “Independent international routes are also important for ACDC’s clients, allowing Neterra’s and NetIX’s services to function independently of Sofia.”

The carrier-neutral Tier III data center ACDC by AbilixSoft in Varna is designed in accordance with the latest industry technology standards and provides a secure, modern infrastructure. As an established data center service provider, Neterra highly values AbilixSoft’s achievement in building and operating the facility.

Thanks to this partnership, clients of both companies will be able to benefit from each other’s data center infrastructure as a secondary point of presence – for example, for geographic redundancy and business continuity (disaster recovery).

About Neterra
Neterra is a global telecom service provider and IT asset manager. It offers a variety of high-quality services, including internet access, colocation in its own data centers, connectivity, and global internet exchange through its NetIX platform. Neterra is an authorized reseller of the satellite internet Starlink by SpaceX.

About AbilixSoft
AbilixSoft is a Bulgarian technology company offering IT solutions and cloud services. It owns and operates the ACDC data center in Varna.

Responding to the deal agreed at the UK-EU Leaders’ Summit, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:  

“Today’s summit marks a turning point in UK/EU relations which puts our trade relationship at the forefront of our partnership going forward. 

“For four years, businesses have fought hard to sustain sales to the EU in the face of a rising tide of costs and paperwork which has severely dented their competitiveness. 

“A permanent deal to remove unnecessary checks on food and drink exports in both directions is a huge boost; it will cut costs, reduce waste and increase sales. 

“It was also essential that a defence and security pact was agreed to involve UK defence companies in wider projects to safeguard our democracies. It is vital now that work starts on agreeing access to joint procurement funding. 

“Making quick progress on the use of E-gates at passport control will make life easier for businesspeople who cross EU borders on a regular basis and also boost UK tourism. 

“This summit also saw encouraging movement on other issues that have long been a thorn in the side of many firms. A commitment to focus on securing a youth mobility scheme and linking our emission trading schemes will make life simpler and less costly for many businesses. 

“The BCC had seven key asks of Government going into these negotiations which were based on four years of research and analysis involving thousands of firms. 

“Today’s deal is good news on five of those. But we must not stop here, this agreement must be the foundation on which we aspire to build a much stronger business relationship going forward. That can only be of benefit to all our economies.” 

The BCC’s TCA Four Years On report had set out 26 recommendations to improve UK-EU trade.  It has previously been presented to both the UK Government and EU Ambassadors.  

Source: British Chambers of Commerce

Euroins, VIDAS, PwC, Devin, Decathlon, Palfinger, Asics, Nestle, METRO and Interlang supported the 11th Friendship Marathon in Pleven, which took place on May 18. With their dedication and inexhaustible energy, the volunteers, among whom were employees of Palfinger, Yettel, the Anglo-American School and representatives of the Roma community in Pleven, contributed to the success and good mood during the event. With their teamwork, they proved that building a fair social environment is a cause that stands above all language and cultural barriers and state borders.

The youngest participant in the Marathon was only 40 days old, and the oldest – 78 years young. Over 600 children aged 6 to 12 participated in the race, which raises funds for a scholarship for a medical student who grew up without parents under the “Get Ready to Succeed” program of the BCause Foundation. A full scholarship for the cause was provided by Palfinger, and those wishing to donate can do so until the end of September here: https://plevenmarathon.com/en/cause-en/

Over the years of its existence, the Marathon has established itself not only as a sports and cultural celebration, eagerly awaited by hundreds of Pleven residents and guests of the city, but also as an event that aims to promote the social inclusion of people with different abilities. Within the Marathon, the traditional mass cross was again held in collaboration with BAPID and the ‘Maria’s World’ Foundation in support of differences and diversity.

The 11th Friendship Marathon in Pleven is organized in partnership with the Municipality of Pleven, by leading foundations and social enterprises in Bulgaria, whose main mission is to support people in disadvantaged situations and with different abilities: Eyes Open, To Run Sports Club, Maria’s World Foundation, Social Future – Jamba Foundation, Elite Running Sports Club from Romania, Bulgarian Association for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, BCause Foundation, Autism Today.

Photos from the event can be seen here: https://plevenmarathon.com/en/gallery-2025/

The press release can be seen here: https://plevenmarathon.com/en/pleven-friendship-marathon-2025/

The company supports the ambitious team of Dimitar Kalchev and Dimitar Mehandzhiyski on their road to Los Angeles 2028

Neterra has become the official sponsor of Bulgaria’s national beach volleyball team, led by Dimitar Kalchev and Dimitar Mehandzhiyski – two young athletes who dream big and work hard to represent Bulgaria at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The company stepped in with support during a crucial stage of their journey, as the team is currently training intensively and competing to earn the ranking points needed to qualify.

The partnership between Neterra and the talented volleyball duo began during an event organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria. There, Kalchev and Mehandzhiyski shared their vision, the challenges they face on the road to the Olympic stage, and the unwavering support of their mentor, Yariv Lerner, CEO of Nu Boyana Film Studios and a former volleyball player. Thanks to his support, the team trains under professional conditions, including access to specialized beach volleyball courts.

The Road to Los Angeles 2028

“Only 24 teams from around the world will qualify for the Olympic beach volleyball tournament. Sixteen of them will get a direct invitation based on the world rankings, while the rest will have to go through qualification events like continental cups and regional championships. Our goal is to be among the top 16 teams globally – an ambitious target that requires constant participation in international tournaments and a serious accumulation of points,” says Dimitar Mehandzhiyski.

Kalchev and Mehandzhiyski already compete in “Futures” tournaments – the entry level of international beach volleyball. They are also active on the Balkan scene, where they won a silver medal at last year’s championship in Moldova. This year, they’re heading to the Balkan Championship in Turkey (May 29 – June 3) and will also take part in Bulgaria’s National League in June.

Bulgaria Hosts a „Futures” Tournament for the First Time

Also in June, thanks to an initiative by Yariv Lerner, Bulgaria will host its first-ever “Futures” beach volleyball tournament in Sveti Vlas. Four Bulgarian teams will compete, including Kalchev and Mehandzhiyski, who will have the chance to play on home soil against strong international competition – another important step toward their dream.

Next on their schedule are international tournaments in countries such as Burundi, Belgium, France, Poland, Greece, and more, which are crucial for gaining points and experience.

“Neterra has always supported people with exceptional talent, ambition, and determination. We believe in long-term support for young and motivated individuals who can inspire an entire generation,” says Maya Kalcheva, Neterra’s Chief Marketing & PR Officer.

About Neterra
Neterra is a global telecommunications service provider and IT asset manager, awarded “Best Central and Eastern European Carrier” in 2023 and 2024 by the Capacity Global Connectivity Awards. The company offers a wide range of high-quality services, including internet access, colocation in its own data centers, connectivity, and global internet exchange through the NetIX platform. Neterra is also an official distributor of Starlink satellite internet from SpaceX.

Investing in Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) is a current necessity, not just a future requirement. PwC’s “Diversity Management: From Competence to Strategy” programme, starting on 30 May 2025. It consists of 3 modules and it is based on international diversity management standards, internationally certified competencies, as well as research- and practice-based experience. 

If you want your work in Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) and diversity management to be successful, it’s important to understand the essence of D&I practices, clearly define your organisation’s D&I goals, and create an effective diversity management strategy. 

By joining PwC’s 3-module programme, you will gain a better understanding of: 

• the role of diversity competence in diversity management and how to navigate the D&I landscape; 
• the essence and benefits of diversity management for business growth; 
• how D&I principles relate to value creation, innovation, and social sustainability; 
• how to measure the effectiveness of diversity management in your company; 
• how to identify and eliminate obstacles to successful diversity management and strengthen inclusive leadership; 
  …and much more! 

To ensure successful implementation of D&I and diversity management practices within your company, it’s recommended that several members of your organisation attend the training. 

For more information please visit PwC’s website or contact PwC at: bg_pwcacademy@pwc.com