EC Threatens to Freeze Rural Area Funding for Bulgaria

Bulgaria's Agriculture Minister, Miroslav Naidenov, informs the EC can freeze all funding for the country's rural areas over violations committed in 2008. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian authorities failed to fully adhere to European legislation and Bulgaria can be excluded from financing from the EU Fund for the Development of Rural Areas.

The warning was issued by the European Commission, and announced by Bulgaria's Agriculture Minister, Miroslav Naidenov.

The EC letter is dated January 26, and is based on an audit of the application of the Program for Development of Rural Areas, conducted between April 1 and June 30, 2008.

The financing that could be halted by the EC is estimated EUR 3,2 B, slated to be absorbed by 2013.

Violations listed in the audit include public tenders' violations, approval of beneficiaries, who did not comply with the requirements and granting funds for phantom projects.

Bulgaria has 2 months to correct the violations, Naidenov said.

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