Bulgaria adds ministry for control over EU funds

Sofia - Bulgaria's conservative government grew by one member Thursday with the addition of the minister for the absorption of European Union funds. Parliament voted 130-56 in favor of the new minister, Tomislav Donchev, previously mayor of Gabrovo, a town 220 kilometers east of Sofia.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov told legislators the new ministry was added to control funds from the EU, a "crucial source of investment for all sectors in Bulgaria."

Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007. A year later Brussels suspended or scrapped hundreds of millions of dollars of development aid following widespread embezzlement of the funds.

Borisov swept the previous, Socialist-led government from power in July 2009 on a promise to combat deeply rooted corruption and organized crime.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/314685,bulgaria-adds-ministry-for-control-over-eu-funds.html.