Bulgaria to clamp down on graft

SOFIA: Bulgaria followed neighbour Romania yesterday in seeking to shed an image as one of Europe’s most corrupt states, announcing plans to form a special unit to investigate high-level graft.

Corruption has eroded Bulgarians’ trust in their public institutions and been a deterrent to businesses for years. Brussels has repeatedly criticised the authorities for failing to jail officials and overhaul its slow and inefficient judiciary.

As a result, it has kept Bulgaria out of the EU’s passportfree Schengen zone.

The new unit will consist of prosecutors, investigators and inspectors and become operational by the start of next year. The government estimates some 7 670 officials could become targets for investigation.