12-05-2008
Bulgaria will be acknowledged as being incapable of directing EU funds in case it does not prove until 16 June that there is no misappropriation of funds under FAR programme. This became clear from the cutting tone of the letter of EU Enlargement General Director Michael Lee. BRUSSELS SHARPENS ITS TONE TO BULGARIA EVEN MORE
This deadline is considered as a last chance given only due to the newly appointed Eurofunds Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Plugchieva. Last week she went to Brussels in an attempt to convince EU Commissioners and officials that Bulgaria has the will to make the necessary corrections.
On 28 February Michael Lee ceased partially the financing of Bulgaria under FAR. The tone of the new letter is even sharper. The country may be excluded from the Extended Decentralized Implementation System (EDIS). This means that it will no longer be a full EU member in the financial sphere and Brussels will control directly the allocation and absorption of EU funds designed for Bulgaria.