Brussels blocks funds to Bulgaria over corruption fears

The European Commission has suspended payments of European Union (EU) funds for infrastructure projects in new member state Bulgaria because its government has failed to combat graft. Citing “irregularities”, the Commission has formally withdrawn accreditation for two Bulgarian government agencies managing EU funds allocated to help new member states attain EU standards: Bulgaria’s Central Financing and Contracting Unit and the Implementing Agency at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Work. Fellow new member state Romania is also criticised, without sanctions so far, with the Commission concluding that “while progress on judicial reform has been made, there is a need… to show there are penalties for high level corruption.”