Figures presented at a forum in Sofia on the topic of "Brace yourselves for Brexit – implications for the European business’ with the participation of the chief EU negotiator for Great Britain’s exit from the bloc Michel Barnier, suggest that close to 30% of Bulgarian businesses expect negative outcomes from the process.

The representative of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria Boriana Manolova has said that Bulgaria will feel the influence of Brexit due to that Great Britain is among the country’s major trade partners.

Despite the relatively small share of Bulgarian exports businesses will be faced with difficulties over the introduction of customs duties, tighter border controls, an additional administrative burden and regulations.

At the forum Michel Barnier has said that consensus has been reached to ensure the rights of EU citizens including 80,000 Bulgarians regarding residence, retirement, social security and social protection.