 During next two years (2008 and 2009) in the framework of this program Alexey officiated all his UEFA matches under supervision of the same referee observer Andreas Schluchter from Switzerland.Starting from the season 2009/2010 Kulbakov regularly officiates matches in the UEFA Europa League group stage.His first match at this level took place 17 September 2009 CFR Cluj won 2-0 against København in Cluj-Napoca.