Brussels, 18/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission could plan to deprive Bulgaria of around €500 million in aid next week and threaten Sofia with other cuts if corruption is not further contained, Reuters reported on Wednesday 16 July, citing Community sources. The European Commission is due to adopt three reports on 23 July on justice, criminality and corruption in Bulgaria and in Romania, as well as on the management of Community funds in the two countries which joined the EU in January 2007. The draft reports are said to be highly critical of the two countries, but only Bulgaria is likely to be penalised financially in the near future, according to a source close to the dossier. Subsidies granted to Bulgaria before its accession to the EU as part of technical assistance and aid to the marketing of agricultural products and road-building, which are already suspended as part of the investigation by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), will be cancelled. “In Bulgaria there are serious, systemic problems. We will confirm that the country will lose some of its rights”, a source told the news agency. Without giving precise figures, the source indicated that the amounts in question would total around €500 million. For the moment the European Commission is refusing to comment further ahead of its declarations, believing that Reuters has not seen the reports. (B.C.)