site.btaPM Borissov Confers with OLAF Director General Ville Itala

110 SECURITY - PRIME MINISTER - OLAF - MEETING

PM Borissov Confers with
OLAF
Director General Ville Itala

June 27 (BTA) - Meeting with Ville Itala, Director General of the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF), Prime Minister Boyko Borissov Thursday said partnership with OLAF is exceptionally important to Bulgaria. This is Itala's first official visit to Bulgaria since he was appointed in August 2018, said the government information service.

Itala said he was impressed with the government's achievements in the fight against contraband and expressed a hope that the excellent cooperation between the Bulgarian special services and OLAF will continue in the future. Borissov underscored the constructive interaction between Bulgaria and OLAF. Of course, there is always room for improvement even in the best cooperation, he said.

The Prime Minister underscored the new Anti-Fraud Strategy adopted by the European Commission in late April. He expressed a hope that the strategy will help to improve the existing system of prevention, investigation and punishment of fraud affecting the EU financial interests.

Borissov added that Bulgaria is implementing its National Anti-Fraud Strategy for 2014-2020 and that a new one is to be drafted for 2021-2027. An annual Action Plan is also being followed in implementation of the strategy, so as to improve prevention, increase the efficiency of detecting and combating irregularities and fraud, and strengthen cooperation with the competent institutions. The aim is also to raise the effectiveness of actions related to investigation, recovery and penalties. Borissov added that Bulgaria fully meets its obligations in reporting irregularities concerning EU funds and programmes. The statutory framework guarantees that any information about a suspected irregularity is checked.

The Prime Minister said Bulgaria consistently supports the proposals for strengthening OLAF's capacity and for a regulation on cooperation between the European Public Prosecutor's Office and OLAF. IG/BR



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