Real changes in the Bulgarian judicial system are needed to improve investigations into possible abuse of EU funds and corruption, said members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control on Wednesday 13 April.
After a three-day visit to Sofia to look into allegations of corruption and misuse of public funds in Bulgaria with a potential impact on the EU’s financial interests, MEPs called for more transparency and simplification in the management of EU-funded projects.
Tomáš Zdechovský (EPP, Czech Republic) said: “We are calling for better transparency and analysis of EU funded projects and continuous and effective fight against corruption in Bulgaria. We expect Bulgarian authorities to introduce real changes in the judiciary”.
The MEPs, who travelled with representatives of the European Commission and the EU Court of Auditors, met with civil society organisations and journalists, the Bulgarian audit authority and officials of the EU funds managing and monitoring authority. The delegation met with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Kiril Petkov, officials involved in the administration and management of EU funds, the Bulgarian Prosecutor General and parliamentarians from the National Assembly’s Corruption Prevention Committee. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)