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The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) wants Bulgaria to recover 30m euros in the European budget, OLAF's report for last year said today.

The document notes that the service has completed its investigation into the construction of 377 guest houses co-financed by the European Fund for Rural Development and recommends that the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development reimburse 23m euros.

OLAF states that this is a fraud in which the houses are not used for the purposes for which EU funds were allocated, namely improving the economic sustainability of these areas, job creation and diversification of economic activities. 

The Office also found a number of irregularities under a scheme funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund in Bulgaria, which was supposed to promote the production and advertising of agricultural products such as wines, cherries and dairy products.

The Czech Republic will return millions to the EU due to a conflict of interest

The investigation found that the implementation of all 11 programs was entrusted to the same economic operator based in Greece, and the procedure for selecting the contractor deviated significantly from the competition requirements.

The investigation has shown that the funds under the programs are very high and there are significant differences between the prices on invoices from contractors and subcontractors.

That is why OLAF recommends that the amount of EUR 7 million be reimbursed in the fund, BNR notes. 

OLAF

fraud

misuse of EU funds

EU funds