site.btaFisheries Agency Chief Fired for Delays in Implementing EU Regulation

Sofia, August 20 (BTA) - The Executive Director of the Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EAFA), Maidun Sakadjiev, was removed from office because of repeated delays in honouring EAFA's commitments regarding EU Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring
compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy.

The order was issued by the new Agriculture and Food Minister, Vassil Groudev, after consultation with Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki.

The delays in implementing the EU regulation have caused the European Commission to open an infringement procedure against Bulgaria, which is currently in a pretrial phase. The European Commission has also sent a number of letters to Sofia complaining of EAFA's unsatisfactory performance. The complaints have been verified by an audit conducted by the Agriculture and Food Ministry.

Sakadjiev will be replaced by Yancho Yanev as EAFA Executive Director. Yanev has been working with EAFA since 2009, most recently as head of the Regional Fisheries Centre for Southeastern Bulgaria.

Sakadjiev's name cropped up in a recent scandal after a former EAFA officer said in a televised interview that EAFA employees were being forced to join the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, one of the major political parties in the country.