Bulgaria Interior Minister Backs Idea to Set up European Prosecutor’s Office

Bulgaria's Interior Minister Veselin Vuchkov (L) and OLAF Director General Giovanni Kessler (R) discusssed measures to combat fraud involving EU funds during a meeting in Sofia, 18 November 2014. Photo BGNES

Bulgaria's Interior Minister Veselin Vuchkov on Tuesday supported the idea of establishing European Prosecutor's Office responsible for combating fraud and misappropriation of EU funds.

Bulgaria has a track record of mismanagement of EU funds, which had resulted in the suspension of funding under several operational programmes.

Following a meeting in Sofia with Giovanni Kessler, Director General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), Vuchkov also announced that the Protection of EU Financial Interests Directorate (AFCOS) will remain within the Interior Ministry despite forthcoming legislative changes.

Kessler praised the commitment of Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry to combat fraud and cooperate closely with OLAF.

Vuchkov also expressed his content that the new European Commission, and in particular Kristalina Georgieva, Vice-President and Commissioner on Budget and Human Resources, are fully committed to combating fraud involving EU funds.

Giovanni Kessler is also expected to hold a meeting with Bulgaria’s Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov during his visit to Sofia.

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