Bulgaria froze funding for two more measures under the European Union pre-accession aid Sapard programme at the demand of the European Commission (EC), Deputy Prime Minister for EU funds Meglena Plougchieva and Agriculture and Forestry Minister Valeri Tsvetanov told a news conference on June 27 2008.

The two measures are: development and diversification of economic activities, provision for multiple activities and alternative income; and investments in agricultural holdings.

EC’s directorate general for agriculture and rural development sent a letter to ask for payments under those measures to be halted, Dnevnik daily said. Details on specific violations were not made public, but it became clear that the measure was taken after an investigation made by European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

Tsvetanov said that a work group of experts was already formed to prepare an emergency plan for action by June 30. The experts would leave for Brussels at the beginning of July to discuss with the EC the measures to be taken.

According to Plougchieva, the freezing of funds was only temporary.