Director Dismissed for Abuse to Distribute 6 Billion Euros from The EU Recovery Plan

Dismissed after suspicions of abuses, Ministerial Chief Stefan Popov quietly became Director of the newly established mega-agency State Agency for Research and Innovation at the Council of Ministers. It is through it that 6 billion euros will be absorbed in the period 2021-2027. the Recovery and Stability Plan.

In 2019, the Director of the Directorate General for European Funding (the Managing Authority of OPIC) Smilena Kostova dismissed all heads of departments, including the head of the most key Monitoring Department – Stefan Popov. The reason is suspicions of heavy misuse of EU funds under projects under the “Operational Program Innovation and Competitiveness”, because of which there is a report to SANS and a development in OLAF.

All dismissed complained of unlawful removal in the Sofia City Council, but only Stefan Popov’s claim was upheld by a decision of the Supreme Administrative Court of 23.03.2021. After the judgment, Stefan Popov was reinstated as a state expert for a day, but instead of being immediately fired, as is the practice, on April 12 he was reappointed as Director of the Tools and Networks Directorate (DIM) at the National Administrative Court.

Ladybug reshuffles in the management of OPIC

Meanwhile, strange appointments are also taking place in the Directorate General for European Funding, which is the managing authority of OPIC. Director General becomes Iliana Ilieva. Ilieva’s career growth from an expert in the Employment Agency through a chief expert at OPIC to a director of such a key position is related to her proximity to GERB, commented BRRD sources at the Ministry of Economy.

Evelina Zaharieva became Head of Risk Management, Control and Security Department. The latter has experience from the Inspectorate Directorate at the Ministry of Justice, but has no experience with EU projects. It will now be responsible for irregularities and financial corrections in projects. She was also appointed as Ilieva’s replacement.

***

Разследващата журналистика е разузнаването на гражданите. BIRD се финансира от дарения. Ние не публикуваме реклами. Не получаваме държавни субсидии. Не разчитаме на грантове. Финансирането чрез малки дарения от читатели е гаранция за нашата независимост. Включете се, за да продължим да разкриваме злоупотреби и да държим отговорни властимащите. Използваме Вашите пари за хонорари на журналистите, командировки, изграждане и поддръжка на нашите информационни системи, такси за фирмени и имотни регистри у нас и по света, придобиване на техника и специално оборудване, осигуряване на нашата безопасност и други важни работни мисии. Важно: Ако дарявате всеки месец това ще ни даде възможност да планираме и организираме нашата работа. Благодарим Ви! Нас ни има, защото Вас Ви има!

This post is also available in: Български (Bulgarian)