The Bulgarian government has cancelled public procurement procedures worth more than BGN 600 M.

This was announced by Bulgarian Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov on Wednesday, BGNES news agency informs.

The news comes only two days after Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov ordered the termination of the tender for the construction of lots 1 and 2 of Hemus motorway worth BGN 800 M.

The tender was cancelled due to the lack of EU funding and media reports that linked the contractors to controversial MP and media mogul Delyan Peevski and the head of Lukoil Bulgaria, Valentin Zlatev.

During the debate at the regular meeting of the government on Wednesday, Borisov entrusted Agriculture Minister Desislava Taneva with terminating a public tender worth BGN 95 M on the construction of forest infrastructure and roads in southwestern Bulgaria.

The BGN 500 M public procurement procedure on the issue of new identity documents announced by the interior ministry has also been terminated.

Large-scale public procurement procedures launched in the city of Varna are also terminated.

Goranov said that there is a debate that several other large-scale tenders should be terminated and additional information will be provided on them.

The idea is that large-scale public tenders which represent broad public interest should be relaunched under the newly adopted Public Procurement Act.

The tenders should be held under clear and transparent rules and procedures in order to eliminate any doubts of their transparency.

According to him, this will ensure that public interest is protected and the best offer is achieved.

The terminations are concerning procedures which have not been concluded and will be relaunched under the new rules.