Bulgarian ambassador speaks out on 'defamatory' rhetoric

By Ben Riley-Smith

Konstantin Dimitrov, the Bulgarian ambassador Not a single work permit request has been rejected in the past six years despite promise to protect British jobs, says ambassador to the UK, talks to The Telegraph ahead of the lifting of border controls which expire on December 31.

On anti-Bulgarian rhetoric

"It is very simplificatory, very stereotyping, very insulting, in certain cases discriminatory and definitely defamatory."

On why Bulgarians living in the UK are not immigrants

"Immigrants are those who need visas to enter your country. Bulgarians don’t need visas to enter the UK. This is a fact as of 2007. We are free-moving nationals of the European Union like the French, the Germans, the Dutch etc. Therefore we are not immigrants."

On whether there should limits to EU citizens working in Britain

"No. This is a contractual obligation for Bulgaria, for the UK, for all members (of the EU) to guarantee the right of freedom to work to anyone who wants to legally work in any member state."

On politicians using loose rhetoric on Bulgarian immigration

"Their moral integrity is in the line of fire ... There are a number of dangers. [It could enhance] the intra-social tension in the UK, which is eventually detrimental to the fabric of society."

On what Bulgarians think of the immigration debate in Britain

"Their national pride is hurt. We don’t deserve this. ... Why are they doing this? What is the reason for insulting us? That’s what they say. Is this the civilised way we would expect [to be treated] from citizens of perhaps the oldest and most respected democracy in the world?"

On forcing immigrants to speak English

"I cannot imagine anyone introducing legally binding language criteria for his or her presence in the UK if that person in question is from the European Union. It would be violating the treaty rules. ... It would be illegal if any country introduces a linguistic barrier to the free movements of nationals of other members of the union."

On what is putting Bulgarians off moving to the UK

"The geographical distance, the climatic conditions and more importantly the relatively good awareness of the [work] conditions here. The UK market is very competitive. The UK is a very expensive place in comparable terms to other European nations for Bulgarians with our modest individual remunerations."

On the Roma community

"The Roma community should not be singled out as a special case ... If they are European Union nationals they are European Union nationals." Agencies