A handbook called "Methodology for investigation of misuse of EU funds", aimed at helping investigators probe the misuse of EU funds, was presented on June 1 2009 in Sofia, Bulgarian BTA news agency said.

The book is developed under the project "Effective investigation and prosecution of misuse of EU funds" of the Transparency International – Bulgaria (TIB), implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and Prosecutor-General Office.

The project is financed under the MATRA/KAP Programme of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Sofia.

"The project we witness today is a fine example of Bulgarian-Dutch co-operation. It gives experts a valuable tool to fine-tune their efforts to counteract misuse. So that the EU billions - the tangible expression of European solidarity - reach their proper destination," said Dutch ambassador Willem van Ee at the ceremony.

He was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of EU funds, Meglena Plougchieva, Interior Minister Mihail Mikov, and Margarita Popova - head of the unit of investigation of crimes against the financial system of the EU at the Prosecutor-General's Office.

Besides presenting the book, the event included training of Bulgarian police investigators and prosecutors, specialised in investigating the misuse of EU funds. Among the issues discussed were sanction mechanisms and ways to co-operate with the EU's anti-fraud unit, OLAF.

TIB's projects also includes a special methodology of investigating misuse of EU funds, the most common difficulties during the process of investigation as well as a catalogue of most common violations.