The European Prosecutor's Office has received a record number of complaints from Bulgaria and has already started investigating more than 120 cases, European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi said after meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov in Sofia. We have received information about frauds with EU funds - mostly related to public procurement procedures, abuses in the agriculture sector, construction, recovery funds related to the Covid-19 pandemic, she said.

Laura Kövesi added that the Council of Ministers would become a contact point with the European Public Prosecutor's Office and this was a clear signal of strong commitment at the highest level. "We have received numerous reports of violations and now is the time for the Bulgarian authorities to start working on very complex cases together with us and that is why we are here," Kövesi added. She pointed out the importance of Bulgarian authorities signaling the European Public Prosecutor's Office over frauds.

Laura Kövesi thanked Kiril Petkov for his determination and clear vision when it came to the fight against corruption. We share the same priorities, we speak the same language. If there was no detection of fraud, there would be no investigation. That is the starting point, she said. The Bulgarian Prime Minister described the conversation as constructive and comprehensive, showing a common ambition for work in order to tackle violations, corruption and crimes related to EU funds.