The penetration of organised crime into the political and business establishment, and the corruption associated with it, has been corrosive for Bulgaria – for the economy but above all for the society as a whole, the outgoing British envoy has warned.

The British Ambassador to Bulgaria Steve Williams delivered a farelwell speech an event organised by the Atlantic Club in Sofia on Monday. He titled his speech "7 years in Bulgaria: Some reflections" and spoke about his work and life in Bulgaria during his two postings - 1984 - 1987 and 2007 - 2011.

"A few have got very rich illegally at the expense of the majority. These problems were of course recognised when Bulgaria joined the EU, with the establishment of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), to encourage the reform of the judiciary and the fight against organised crime and corruption, " Ambassador Williams pointed out.

He stressed that in the last 18 months important progress has been made, which has been recognised by the Commission.

"The government deserves much credit for that. It is vital that this progress is maintained – not because the Commission says so, or because foreign Ambassadors say so, or because foreign investors say so (although they do) but because the vast majority of ordinary Bulgarians want and deserve it," he said.

According to the ambassador however good the record of police operations in the past year, this needs to be followed through with successful court convictions if people – within and outside Bulgaria – are to be convinced that the progress is irreversible.

"Strong and effective asset forfeiture legislation, including non-convictions based, is vital for the fight against organised crime. But if the mutri culture and all that is associated with it (including the flashing car headlights!) are to be truly expunged, then unexplained wealth needs to be tackled, and tackled robustly," he added.

The ambassador recounted one of his flashback memories from the 1980s – the sight in the rear view mirror of a black Mercedes or a black Volga (depending perhaps on whether it was full or candidate member of the Politburo) flashing its headlights to make you pull over and clear the way for the VIP to be rushed on his journey (and it always was a he not a she in those days).

"24 years on, it is depressing that the same phenomenon exists: big black cars (often 4x4s these days), flashing headlights, and drivers that think one rule applies to them and another for the "ordinary people". These are usually the same cars that overtake on blind stretches of road, drive at excessive speed through villages, and queue jump at traffic lights by getting in the wrong lane. Except this time the drivers of this type are not the political elite, but the leading figures from the "grey economy" to put it kindly. Or mutri to put it less kindly," he said.

The ambassador emphasizes that these are personal reflections, not intended to be interpreted as a statement of British government policy.

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