Caught by surprise by the European Commission's decision on Tuesday (25 November) to strip Bulgaria of €220 million in EU money over persistent corruption concerns, the country's politicians voiced their frustration and disappointment. "I am extremely disappointed with Brussels' decision. We have achieved clear results. We have made conspicuous progress," Bulgarian deputy prime minister Meglena Plugchieva, in charge of EU fund management, said in a statement. Bulgaria says it has done its utmost to meet Brussels' requirements. "And all this in the context of a financial crisis, when the EU is shaking yet Bulgaria is stable and is not waiting for a financial injection. This decision is inadmissible," she also told Bulgarian daily Standart. Brussels on Tuesday said it would not renew the accreditation of two government agencies charged with handling EU money under the pre-accession PHARE programme, as it was not satisfied with Bulgaria's record of fighting corruption and fraud. In effect, this means the country has irretrievably lost €220 million, as no contracts for the sums have yet been signed and the deadline for this to happen is 30 November. Contracts for an additional €340 million under the programme have already been signed, but will remain frozen for now, Brussels said.
Caught by surprise by the European Commission's decision on Tuesday (25 November) to strip Bulgaria of €220 million in EU money over persistent corruption concerns, the country's politicians voiced their frustration and disappointment.
"I am extremely disappointed with Brussels' decision. We have achieved clear results. We have made conspicuous progress," Bulgarian deputy prime minister Meglena Plugchieva, in charge of EU fund management, said in a statement.
Bulgaria says it has done its utmost to meet Brussels' requirements.
"And all this in the context of a financial crisis, when the EU is shaking yet Bulgaria is stable and is not waiting for a financial injection. This decision is inadmissible," she also told Bulgarian daily Standart.
Brussels on Tuesday said it would not renew the accreditation of two government agencies charged with handling EU money under the pre-accession PHARE programme, as it was not satisfied with Bulgaria's record of fighting corruption and fraud.
In effect, this means the country has irretrievably lost €220 million, as no contracts for the sums have yet been signed and the deadline for this to happen is 30 November. Contracts for an additional €340 million under the programme have already been signed, but will remain frozen for now, Brussels said.
Actually, the high-level decisionmakers, they didn't.
What did they expect if people earn 300-500 Euros A MONTH and with EU prices ?
Low pay of low-level public servants is indeed a point -- but the most corrupt are always on the top, NOT the €300-500 people. (In fact, the corrupt top bureaucrats and ministerial secretaries are fleecing the €300-500 people!) And that's what the EU observers noticed.
Regarding EU prices, I think I understand what you mean, but we'll have to spell it out to others. One would naively think that joining the EU would simply bring down prices: with the elimination of tariffs on imported stuff. However, open market requirements meant that countries joining also had to reduce social price support subsidies and eliminate fixed prices, above all in the energy sector.
On the other hand, considering both the recent oil/gas price hikes, and the Eastern Block recapitulation of the West's Second Energy Crisis in the eighties, I think it would have taken MUCH MORE than staying out of the EU to avoid these price hikes. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Like they didn't know before how strong corruption is in Eastern block Actually, the high-level decisionmakers, they didn't.
