Brussels, 21/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 20 June, the European Commission sent Bulgaria to the European Court of Justice for failing to remove various aspects of a technical assistance agreement signed with the United States before Bulgaria joined the EU that exonerate goods financed by the United States and goods and services bought in Bulgaria using cash from the technical assistance programme from customs duty and VAT. These measures go beyond what is allowed under EU customs and VAT rules, which is why the Commission asked Bulgaria in June 2012 to change the agreement to bring it into line with the EU rules within two months (see EUROPE 10640). Bulgaria has not complied, so the Commission is sending it to court. (FG/transl.fl)