The representatives of the Main Directorate "Agriculture" at the EC have given a good mark for Bulgaria's work in the SAPARD program.

This statement was made by Depute Prime Minister Meglena Plugchieva in front of Cyril Vulchev, host of Darik radio's Saturday show "The Week".

Plugchieva admitted that the auditors have found some oversights but qualified them as minor. The Depute PM expressed optimism regarding measures undertaken by the Cabinet for optimising the SAPARD program as well as the two other EU ones - ISPA and PHARE.

"The measures are successful and what we need now is intense work", Plugchieva said.

She declined to state the exact amount of the funds that have been put on hold by the EU for different programs.

The ISPA funds were put on hold, but with the new measures regarding the Road Agency, we expect that they become available soon", Plugchieva commented, adding that we must also secure the PHARE funds since they amount to about EUR 280 M to be absorbed till the end of the year.

"The task related to SAPARD is enormous since there is a large amount of money to be absorbed and this requires intense labor on the part of State Fund "Agriculture" in June and July", Plugchiveva explained. She pointed out that there was a request already submitted with the EC for extension of the absorption deadline till the end of 2009.

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