Procurement procedures worth more than EUR 350 million and contracts worth over EUR 20 million have been terminated at the National Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC) following an audit that raised suspicions of irregularities, Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Peev told Nova TV on Sunday.
Asked about the results of audits at Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) and NRIC, Peev said 17 cases had already been referred to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). One involves suspected misuse of EU funds, including transfers to shell companies and subsequent cash withdrawals, he said.
Peev said NRIC procedures had been halted in cases where funding had not been secured, where eligibility criteria appeared tailored to a single contractor, or where bids exceeded an indicative value that had not been set as a ceiling.
He said irregularities had also been identified at BDZ involving contract amendments and the purchase of rolling stock, with the findings referred to the European Anti-Fraud Office.
The audits have been completed and their findings reported to the relevant national and European authorities, Peev added.
Turning to maritime security following drone attacks on merchant vessels in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, Peev said he did not expect provocations within Bulgaria’s territorial waters and expressed hope for de-escalation and the swift start of peace talks.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Rumen Radev reported drone attacks on ships in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. They took place seven days after sea and aerial drones struck two other merchant vessels.
Asked about European Council conclusions attributing the drone strikes on vessels in the Bulgarian and Romanian exclusive economic zones to Russia, Peev said conclusions should be based on facts and evidence. He added that various hypotheses remained possible, including that the drones may have been manufactured by a third country.
Bulgaria is expected to acquire a specialized search-and-rescue vessel in 2029 and subsequently seek EU funding for additional vessels of this type, Peev said. He added that the ships had sunk so quickly that the availability of additional technical equipment would not have changed the outcome.
On Pan-European Transport Corridor VIII, Peev said relations with the Republic of North Macedonia are good, practical and operational, and that the two governments had accelerated work on the project. He expressed confidence that EU funding would be secured and implementation would proceed at a faster pace.
Transport Minister: Procedures Worth over EUR 350 Mln Terminated at Railway Infrastructure Company after Audit THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-18 17:23:10
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