EU Commission Targets August Deadline to Release €3 Billion in EU Funds for Bulgaria
EU Funding and Reform Progress in Bulgaria
Commission Welcomes Progress on Anti-Corruption Office
BRUSSELS, May 28 (Reuters) - The European Commission welcomed on Thursday Bulgaria's progress in establishing an independent anti-corruption office and said the goal was to get the reminder of EU funds for Sofia, linked to various reforms, unlocked by the end-August deadline.
Details of Bulgaria’s EU Recovery Grants
Post-Pandemic Recovery Programme
Under the EU's post-pandemic recovery programme, Bulgaria was to receive 6.2 billion euros in grants. The money is linked to a series of reforms that Bulgaria agreed with the EU, including the establishment of the anti-corruption office.
Funds Already Disbursed and Political Challenges
Sofia has already received some 3.3 billion of the EU funds, but progress on meeting the milestones and targets for the rest of the cash was difficult because in the last three years the country had five parliamentary elections.
Statements from EU Leadership
Von der Leyen’s Comments on Reform Momentum
"We all know there is the deadline of August, so the goal is to unlock resources by then and for this we must maintain momentum on reforms," European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said after talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev.
Reporting Attribution
(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski)
