There is a “theoretical possibility” that European Union funds for Bulgaria’s agriculture could be cut by 25 per cent, according to Bulgaria’s European Integration Minister Gergana Grancharova.

Agriculture was the only field where reduction of the funds for Bulgaria was possible, she said, as quoted by Bulgarian news agency BTA.

Grancharova said that she hoped the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry would do its best to prevent the funds being reduced.

Grancharova said that the amount of support that Bulgaria would use from EU structural and cohesion funds depended on the capacity of the administration and the number of quality projects that would be presented.

“If we fail to use some of the money, it will not be a financial sanction, but because of lack of capacity of the state and local business,” she said.