The European commission will start an investigation on whether the Bulgarian government hasn't provided an illegal state funding of Trakia highway in the contract signed with a Portuguese consortium.

The investigation starts based on a letter to the European commission written by the Bulgarian member of the European parliament Nikolay Mladenov.

Mladenov claims that in February 2005 the Bulgarian government has given without any competition concession for hundreds of millions of Euro for the construction of the Trakia highway to a group which has close relations with ministers from the government.

Mladenov asks if the European commission will require reimbursement of the funding provided as secret help by the Bulgarian government.

The contract for the highway was re-contracted earlier this year but the government kept its terms secret although this might be to the detriment of the Bulgarian taxpayer.

In his letter Mladenov has asked the European commission whether it will ask the authorities in Sofia to give information on the new agreement for Trakia highway and whether the state help is in compliance with the EU requirements.

The government help covers not only the construction of the highway sections which are extremely costly but also monopoly concessions for petrol stations, restaurants and other services. Most shocking is the third area of subsidizing – 35-year guarantee for contingent losses connected with the highway's exploitation.

This can cause losses to the Bulgarian taxpayers worth 400 M EUR. Initially the EU approved hesitantly the agreement but after it was re-contracted Brussels should give again its approval.

State subsidizing is considered illegal by the EU and the money should be returned. Transparency International has sent its own report to the European commission in which it draws the attention on the way the subsidies for Trakia highway were given.

Ñïîäåëè: Send  Ibox.bg Âúâ Facebook  Svejo