European Commission suspends millions in aid for Bulgaria

The European Commission froze almost $800 million US in aid to Bulgaria on Wednesday, citing corruption, organized crime, severe spending irregularities and alleged vote-buying in a country that only joined the EU last year. The move prompted Bulgaria's opposition party to call for a confidence vote against the government, the sixth such motion since the government took office in 2005. The government, formed by a coalition led by the Bulgarian Socialist Party, controls 150 seats in the 240-member parliament, so it is expected to survive the vote. The European Commission indefinitely froze 486 million euros in aid for farmers, road-building and other infrastructure projects and blacklisted two Bulgarian government agencies handling EU funds. The suspension remains in effect until "sound financial management structures are in... [read full story]