site.btaRenew Europe Urges EC to Freeze EU Funding for Bulgaria over Varna Mayor Imprisonment

The setting up of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Bulgaria is an important part of the reform the country is undertaking in the area of anti-corruption and is among the commitments related to securing funds under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), European Commission (EC) spokesperson Markus Lammert here said on Wednesday. EC spokeperson Maceij Berestecki confirmed that the EC had received a letter from the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament linking the case against Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev to the assessment of RRP funding for Bulgaria.

"Structural and operational autonomy and independence are key requirements for proper and effective exercise of the functions of a specialized anti-corruption body," Lammert stressed. 

"We do not ever comment on individual cases, we are aware of the situation and of the recent allegations," Lammert said. "We will respond to the letter," he added. "It is for Member States to intervene in such cases and for national authorities to give an appropriate follow up," he added.

On July 9, the Council of the EU approved an amendment to Bulgaria's RRP, after which Bulgaria submitted a request for a second payment. "Since July 23, we are still assessing the second payment request covering different milestones and targets. I can confirm that one of them is indeed related to the setting up of a politically and financially independent anti-corruption body," Berestecki said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Renew Europe group urged the EC to freeze EU funds "until Sofia stops weaponizing institutions against opponents." "The imprisonment of Varna's mayor is alarming proof of democratic backsliding in Bulgaria," they wrote on X.