European Prosecution to Probe 120 Corruption, Mismanagement Cases from Bulgaria
World
Sat, 19 Mar 2022 9:02 GMT
Bulgaria PM Kiril Petkov and European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi have pledged to work together on probing malpractices with EU and state funds, which allegedly took place under former PM Boyko Borissov's mandate.The European Chief Prosecutor, Laura Köv...
Bulgaria PM Kiril Petkov and European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi have pledged to work together on probing malpractices with EU and state funds, which allegedly took place under former PM Boyko Borissov's mandate.
The European Chief Prosecutor, Laura Kövesi, said over 120 cases of funds mismanagement and corruption in Bulgaria will receive an examination, after a meeting in Sofia with Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov on Wednesday.
The cases refer to various types of suspected crimes – fraudulent use of European funds, mismanagement of public funds, misuse of agricultural subsidies, violations in the field of infrastructure, as well as compensations and recovery aid packages following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kövesi stated that an annual report, including data and statistics concerning cases and investigations conducted in all EU countries, will be published by her office later in March.
“Our common ambition is tо avoid any violations, corruption and any kinds of crimes related to the spending of EU funds in Bulgaria. We will work together for this,” said Petkov.
The need for judicial reform and for a revision of how EU funds were spent in Bulgaria has long been one of the main topics discussed by the new government.
November election winners “We Continue the Change”, Democratic Bulgaria and “There’s Such a People” have severely criticised the conduct of Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev, seen by them as the protector of former PM Boyko Borissov and his GERB party, now in opposition. In February, the new Justice Minister made moves to dismiss Geshev.
Petkov said that Geshev won’t be involved in talks between the government and the European Prosecutor’s Office.
“I want to establish new relations between the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Council of Ministers. We have the opportunity to have no intermediaries for information, so that we can send signals concerning corruption with European funds in the most direct way possible,” Petkov told the media.
“The idea of PM Kiril Petkov, to create a special group to work with the European Prosecutor’s Office as a guarantee of autonomy, is something we should strive for,” Kövesi agreed.
Geshev and Kövesi are expected to meet on Thursday. Speaking to the media, Geshev dismissed claims that he opposed to the government dominating the dialogue with the European Prosecution.
“I have nothing to worry about. I’m concerned about only one thing – the constant violation of the principle of the rule of law and the separation of powers from Bulgarian politicians,” he said.
The European Chief Prosecutor, Laura Kövesi, said over 120 cases of funds mismanagement and corruption in Bulgaria will receive an examination, after a meeting in Sofia with Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov on Wednesday.
The cases refer to various types of suspected crimes – fraudulent use of European funds, mismanagement of public funds, misuse of agricultural subsidies, violations in the field of infrastructure, as well as compensations and recovery aid packages following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kövesi stated that an annual report, including data and statistics concerning cases and investigations conducted in all EU countries, will be published by her office later in March.
“Our common ambition is tо avoid any violations, corruption and any kinds of crimes related to the spending of EU funds in Bulgaria. We will work together for this,” said Petkov.
The need for judicial reform and for a revision of how EU funds were spent in Bulgaria has long been one of the main topics discussed by the new government.
November election winners “We Continue the Change”, Democratic Bulgaria and “There’s Such a People” have severely criticised the conduct of Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev, seen by them as the protector of former PM Boyko Borissov and his GERB party, now in opposition. In February, the new Justice Minister made moves to dismiss Geshev.
Petkov said that Geshev won’t be involved in talks between the government and the European Prosecutor’s Office.
“I want to establish new relations between the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Council of Ministers. We have the opportunity to have no intermediaries for information, so that we can send signals concerning corruption with European funds in the most direct way possible,” Petkov told the media.
“The idea of PM Kiril Petkov, to create a special group to work with the European Prosecutor’s Office as a guarantee of autonomy, is something we should strive for,” Kövesi agreed.
Geshev and Kövesi are expected to meet on Thursday. Speaking to the media, Geshev dismissed claims that he opposed to the government dominating the dialogue with the European Prosecution.
“I have nothing to worry about. I’m concerned about only one thing – the constant violation of the principle of the rule of law and the separation of powers from Bulgarian politicians,” he said.
