Almost 30 experts from auditing company Grant Thornton will probe into Bulgaria’s implementation of European Union operational programmes, the country's Finance Ministry said in a statement, as quoted by Bulgarian news agency BTA.

The investigations, to last between May 19 and the end of June, will focus on the Technical Aid programme, under the authority of the Finance Ministry; Administrative Capacity (Ministry of State Administration); Transport (Ministry of Transport), Regional Development (Ministry of Development and Public Works); Human Resource Development (Ministry of Labour and Social Policy); and Environment (Environment Ministry).

The auditors will be expected to check the compliance of management and control systems with the requirements of applicable regulations, the ministry said. Grant Thornton was commissioned at the request of the Finance Ministry and after a tender called under the Public Procurement Act, according to the statement.

The auditors will be reporting findings to the heads of the authorities overseeing the spending of European financing and the EU funds audit directorate. A final report on the checks is due on July 31, the statement read.

The European Commission will review the report within two months and decide whether to unfreeze funds or issue interim payments, respectively.