Sat, Feb 11 2012

Olaf probes Bulgarian projects funded under Sapard programme

Tue, Nov 10 2009 16:21 CET

byDnevnik.bg

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Olaf probes Bulgarian projects funded under Sapard programme

Photo: НАДЕЖДА ЧИПЕВА

Half of Bulgaria’s remaining 189 projects earmarked to receive subsidies under the European Union's pre-accession aid programme Sapard by the end of 2009 are being probed by the EU's anti-fraud office Olaf and Bulgarian prosecutors.

Most checks are expected to be wrapped up at the end of December, when the programme expires, but for others the legal proceedings could drag on, said Kalina Ilieva, executive director of State Fund Agriculture, which distributes the funding.

The cash pot for the projects amounts to 118.8 million leva, but the Fund is yet to estimate how much could be left unpaid. Ten projects have been stalled as they await completion of pre-litigation procedures, which are expected within six months, Ilieva said.

If charges are dropped and the subsidies have not been paid out by the time Sapard programme is phased out, companies could file lawsuits against the Fund.

The Fund’s executives plan to meet with the Finance Ministry to work out a compromise in case the beneficiaries are found to be not guilty.

Source: Dnevnik

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