Bulgaria EU SAPARD Beneficiaries Must Repay BGN 10 M

Bulgarian farmers are pictured sitting in a cart with the EU flag during the summer of 2008 as a sign of protest against the blocking of EU funds for Bulgaria. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian beneficiaries, who have violations proven by the Prosecutor's Office, must repay nearly BGN 10 M to the SAPARD Agency.

The information was reported Monday by the State "Agriculture" Fund, upon announcement that they begin paying the SAPARD funds, which have just been released by the European Commission after the September 9 and 10 official visit to Brussels, led by Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov.

The so-called "book of debtors" lists 98 SAPARD projects. The use of false documentation has been already proven for 10 of them. The 98 projects include 13 municipal ones.

The projects awaiting SAPARD funds are 308 for a total subsidy amount of BGN 152 M with 106 belonging to municipalities and 201 being private. All of them are currently in the process of being verified according to SAPARD procedures.

In connection with the unfreezing of the much needed SAPARD funds for Bulgaria, the EU anti-fraud office OLAF and the EC pointed out that in order to have a successful conclusion of the program in Bulgaria, the compliance with the European regulations is a must and the administration at the State "Agriculture" Fund must be protected from political interference.

 

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