Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski has accepted the resignation of Customs Agency Director Asen Asenov, the Ministry said on Friday.

Oresharski will appoint Hristo Koulishev in Asenov's place effective June 2. The appointment has been cleared with Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev.

Koulishev has a long experience in the Customs administration. He was head of the Customs Chief Department between 1992 and 1997, and his most recent position was head of Sofia's Customs Directorate.

"Koulishev is a long-serving Customs staff member, who has proved his professionalism," Oresharski commented.

Speaking in Parliament Friday Stanishev said that Asenov headed the Customs Agency for many years during which it achieved a lot. The Prime Minister said that whereas the customs policy was in the "red-coloured area" before Bulgaria's accession to the EU, it was quickly moved to the "green-coloured area" after Bulgaria joined the EU.

Stansihev said that the reports of the European Commission about Bulgaria did not contain serious criticism towards customs, but just the opposite, noted progress. He stressed that collection of excise duties needs to be stepped up since they are a key source of budget revenue.

Asked whether Koulishev's appointment as Customs Agency Director is appropriate and whether it will increase the rate of collection of excise duties, Stanishev said Koulishev is a person with long experience in and knowledge of the system.