EC Audits Bulgarian Agriculture Fund Mangement under Ex CEO

Bulgaria's Agriculture Minister, Miroslav Naydenov, reassures the scandal with the former CEO of the Bulgarian Agriculture Fund would not impede EU SAPARD subsidies. Photo by BGNES

A thorough European Commission audit of the way Bulgaria's Agriculture Fund was managed under its former Director, Kalina Ilieva, is a strong possibility, Agriculture Minister, Miroslav Naydenov says.

Naydenov told the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, on Monday he would propose to the Bulgarian authorities to carry out their own probe so that they are prepared for the EC one.

The Minister is in Brussels for talks with Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner, Dacian Ciolos. He said that the issue with Ilieva's forged diploma had not come up, and the two only discussed the system for land plot identification, where, according to Naydenov, Bulgaria is now making up for the delay.

The Minister reiterated previous reassurances Bulgaria would not loose EU SAPARD funding because when Ilieva was the CEO, payments were made not only with her signature, but by following the EU procedure.

Naydenov, however, pointed out he was expecting an "avalanche" of legal claims where individuals and businesses which have been refused financing would attempt to challenge decisions having Ilieva's signature underneath.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!