The caretaker government announced on Monday that it has secured EUR 400 million, representing the second and third payments under Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov confirmed this achievement, stating that the extension of the deadline for meeting key conditions was the result of ongoing negotiations with the European Commission. Speaking alongside Deputy Prime Minister for EU funds Maria Nedina, Gurov clarified that the conditions requiring extension relate specifically to anti-corruption legislation and the establishment of investigative mechanisms for the Prosecutor General.
He noted that upon taking office in late February, the caretaker cabinet faced the dual challenge of submitting a request for the fourth payment and safeguarding nearly half a billion euros from the second and third tranches. According to Gurov, the disbursement of these funds had been halted due to perceived deficiencies in anti-corruption reforms and the lack of an independent body to investigate the prosecutor general. He emphasized that the current caretaker administration successfully prevented the loss of the EUR 400 million previously jeopardized.
The Prime Minister highlighted the critical nature of the recent developments, noting that the country had faced the prospect of a final rejection from the European Commission on May 4th. However, intensive negotiations, spearheaded by Nedina and her team, successfully prompted the Commission to extend the compliance deadline. This development ensures continued financial support for the nation’s recovery efforts.
Topics: #caretaker #gurov #government
