European Anti-fraud Office

A Bulgarian businessman is facing charges in the Sofia District Court for attempted fraud involving nearly 1.92 million euros in EU funds.

In 2022, the European Public Prosecutor's Office revealed a substantial 5 billion euro damage to the EU budget due to the misuse of EU funds, a staggering amount compared to the 300 million euros reported by member countries to the European Commission, according to a report on the investigative platform Follow the Money.

A general view of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) recommends that Bulgaria reimburse more than 30 million euros under European programs in its annual report.

More than 23 million euros of the amount are for the construction of 377 guest houses, which instead of being rented out to tourists, are used for personal needs, BNT reported.

Although, officially, the letter is not the first stage of this procedure to withhold EU funds, most experts regard it as such: if the governments fail to provide adequate answers to the Commission's questions, a suspension of EU funds will be a step closer.

Monica Holheimer (EPP), chairwoman of the European Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control (EPP), suggested on Monday that MEPs travel to Bulgaria for an on-the-spot check on the spending of European budget funds.

She made the proposal at a meeting of the parliamentary committee, which discussed the US sanctions against Bulgarian citizens under the Magnitsky act.

The caretaker government continues with the staff reshuffle in the revenue agencies - Georgi Kostov was removed today from the management of the Customs Agency.This was announced by the Minister of Finance Assen Vassilev at a briefing, as quoted by bTV.

The Border Police will also watch over the security of voting machines. According to the Bulgarian Minister of Interior, special arrangements have been made for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has alleged President's Anti-Corruption Secretary Plamen Uzunov of corruption.

The investigation refers to a contract concluded by Uzunov on March 23, 2017 for the purchase of police cars with European funds.

The European Union's anti-fraud body said almost 140,000 liters of dangerous hand sanitizer have been seized across the region since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.