site.btaBulgaria Expected to Receive Another EUR 109 Mln under Recovery Plan This Week, Deputy PM Pekanov Says

Bulgaria is expected to receive another EUR 109 million this week under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov said on bTV on Tuesday.

Bulgaria has received just over 70% of the funds under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. “My goal is for us to reach more than 90%-95%. Quite a lot of delays have accumulated over the years,” Pekanov said.

He said that the Anti-Corruption Commission, as voted through by the Zhelyazkov Cabinet, had led to more than EUR 400 million being frozen and at risk of being lost. “We saved the money because the Act on Counteracting Corruption among Persons Holding Public Office was adopted, members were elected and the commission will function as expected. This was the first commitment we fulfilled as a Government,” Pekanov said.

According to him, the key issue for the European Commission was whether the new majority had the political will to carry out anti-corruption reforms. “In just two weeks, both the  Act on Counteracting Corruption and legislation expected in relation to the accountability of the Prosecutor General were adopted, unlocking another EUR 109 million that we will receive this week,” he said.

Pekanov noted that the Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) had refused to appoint a member of the Anti-Corruption Commission. This could result in a financial penalty for Bulgaria under the fifth payment, he added. The size of the penalty will become known in September. “I assume it will not be very large,” Pekanov said.

He expressed hope that in September the SCC will reconsider and complete its selection.

Pekanov also said that Sofia’s Georgi Asparuhov metro station will open next week thanks to funding under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

“All work under the Recovery and Resilience Plan must be completed by the end of August. Renovation and construction works must be finished, equipment must have been delivered and the reforms must have been implemented. That is the deadline,” Pekanov said.