Bulgaria should recover to the EU budget over EUR 30 million from projects in the country, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) recommended in its annual report.

More than €23 million was spent on building 377 guest houses. However, instead of being rented out to tourists, they were used for personal needs.

In another case related to the cultivation of vineyards, the recipient of EU funds inflated the prices of the work carried out, subcontracted the work for lower pay and some of the workers were not given employment contracts. 

Malpractices were also found in the advertising of wine, spirits and dairy products, locally produced in Bulgaria, as well as in the alleged afforestation of land, which was not adapted for this activity.

• OLAF recommends that Bulgaria recover EU funds to the tune of nearly EUR 6 million
• OLAF has confirmed Bulgarian investigation against alcohol businessman

Out of a total of 85 cases submitted by OLAF to the European Prosecutor's Office, 13 were related to Bulgaria.