Bulgaria might lose project funding due to public procurement complaints

Bulgaria is facing the risk of losing funds for the implementation of two environmental projects, because of complaints about public procurement procedures.

The two projects, worth a total of EUR 2.2 million, are being implemented by the Bulgarian Executive Environment Agency (ExEA), and must be completed by May this year. So far only BGN 900.000 (EUR 460.000) has been spent on both projects.

The first project concerns the upgrade of a water management system and the second is for monitoring biological diversity. Upon completion of the second project Bulgaria should have an IT system for collecting data and analysis of biodiversity.

The new Bulgarian Minister of Environment Irina Kostova confirmed there were problems with the projects at the press conference where she introduced her team and objectives. The new Bulgarian government was appointed on January 27 this year.

“We are trying to help the working groups and make sure that the contracts are not terminated,” said Kostova, according to Novinite news agency.

The projects are funded from the European Economic Area (EEA) grants, through the Norwegian financial mechanism. Experts say the failure to complete the projects would hurt the reputation of Bulgaria as an executor of contracts funded by EEA.