EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini has described the large-scale corruption scandal that recently shook Bulgaria as a test for high-level corruption combat in the country.

Frattini made the statement in Brussels after conferring with Bulgaria's senior prosecutor Boris Velchev and Interior Minister Rumen Petkov. The meeting was also attended by Catherine Day, the Commission's top civil servant.

There are currently important developments such as this case, which is a test for the prosecution and punishment of the high-ranking officials, the commissioner said.

He announced that the probe into the controversy will be included in the progress report on Bulgaria, due to be published on June 27. Frattini expressed confidence that the recent controversial events in Bulgaria will be assessed as "progress and positive results" in the fight against corruption.

The visit of the Bulgarian officials in Brussels comes after Sofia made an unprecedented request that the European Commission sends experts to monitor the investigation into the scandal, that led to the suspension of Energy and Economy Minister Rumen Ovcharov and national investigative service head Anguel Alexandrov.

Franco Frattini yet again gave indications that Brussels does not want to get involved.

Four of the most powerful EU member states - Britain, France, Sweden and the Netherlands - have recently accused Franco Frattini of growing too close to the two countries he is monitoring - Bulgaria and Romania.

Frattini's decision to go skiing in February with Rumen Petkov, Bulgaria's interior minister, caused consternation in some national capitals and among some colleagues in Brussels, the Financial Times reported last month.

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