site.btaNew Board of Directors Appointed at Irrigation Systems EAD after Audit Finds Public Procurement Violations
ESD 14:07:31 10-02-2022
MY1404ES.107
107 POLITICS - AGRICULTURE MINISTER - EU FUNDS - COMMENT Amp
New Board of Directors Appointed at
Irrigation Systems EAD after
Audit Finds Public Procurement Violations
Sofia, February 10 (BTA) - In a televised interview for Bulgarian National Television on Thursday, Agriculture Minister Ivan Ivanov said that a new board of directors at Irrigation Systems EAD has replaced the old one. The new one is comprised of four people, with Executive Director Nikolay Chalakov. The change was prompted by the old management's refusal to sign decisions to terminate contracts with companies and to start new procedures with remediated irregularities that had been listed in an audit report.
The report established that poor financial discipline in Irrigation Systems EAD could lead to the company's decapitalization. It also found infringements in public procurements that benefi certain contractors over others, Ivanov said. In his words, there were indications of fraud that could have jeopardized the EU funds meant for repairing the irrigation systems under the Rural Development Operational Programme. These findings have been submitted to the Interior Ministry and the State Agency for National Security.
Ivanov also said that the new board will be required to reduce its administration by 70 people. The company's financial situation is practically very difficult, and the new board is tasked with taking urgent measures to improve it, he added.
The currently suspended public procurements worth some 100 million leva in Irrigation Systems EAD will not be wasted. Their implementation deadline is 2025, said the Minister.
Ivanov also said that his Ministry will aim to initiate changes in order to create middle-class Bulgarian farmers, who will be the backbone of Bulgaria's agriculture. "Our goal is to have funding from the EU reach the small and medium-sized farms, so that we avoid disproportion," he also said.
In his words, the lack of control over the last 12 years and the preferential allocation of funds has led to the Bulgarian farmer having a bad image. From here on out, funds will be dispensed according to the coupled support principle. "We aim to create competitive export-oriented production, to saturate the Bulgarian market with local produce, as has been stated in the coalition agreement," he added.
Minister Ivanov said that inspections on imported foods from third countries will be carried out. After the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency started being governed by the Council of Ministers rather than the Agriculture Ministry, the Agency must become an active and effective body that prevents violations in the sector, he added. /DS/NZ/
/МЙ/
MY1404ES.107
107 POLITICS - AGRICULTURE MINISTER - EU FUNDS - COMMENT Amp
New Board of Directors Appointed at
Irrigation Systems EAD after
Audit Finds Public Procurement Violations
Sofia, February 10 (BTA) - In a televised interview for Bulgarian National Television on Thursday, Agriculture Minister Ivan Ivanov said that a new board of directors at Irrigation Systems EAD has replaced the old one. The new one is comprised of four people, with Executive Director Nikolay Chalakov. The change was prompted by the old management's refusal to sign decisions to terminate contracts with companies and to start new procedures with remediated irregularities that had been listed in an audit report.
The report established that poor financial discipline in Irrigation Systems EAD could lead to the company's decapitalization. It also found infringements in public procurements that benefi certain contractors over others, Ivanov said. In his words, there were indications of fraud that could have jeopardized the EU funds meant for repairing the irrigation systems under the Rural Development Operational Programme. These findings have been submitted to the Interior Ministry and the State Agency for National Security.
Ivanov also said that the new board will be required to reduce its administration by 70 people. The company's financial situation is practically very difficult, and the new board is tasked with taking urgent measures to improve it, he added.
The currently suspended public procurements worth some 100 million leva in Irrigation Systems EAD will not be wasted. Their implementation deadline is 2025, said the Minister.
Ivanov also said that his Ministry will aim to initiate changes in order to create middle-class Bulgarian farmers, who will be the backbone of Bulgaria's agriculture. "Our goal is to have funding from the EU reach the small and medium-sized farms, so that we avoid disproportion," he also said.
In his words, the lack of control over the last 12 years and the preferential allocation of funds has led to the Bulgarian farmer having a bad image. From here on out, funds will be dispensed according to the coupled support principle. "We aim to create competitive export-oriented production, to saturate the Bulgarian market with local produce, as has been stated in the coalition agreement," he added.
Minister Ivanov said that inspections on imported foods from third countries will be carried out. After the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency started being governed by the Council of Ministers rather than the Agriculture Ministry, the Agency must become an active and effective body that prevents violations in the sector, he added. /DS/NZ/
/МЙ/
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