EU freezes aid to Bulgaria, citing corruption
The European Commission froze almost euro500 million ($800 million) in aid to Bulgaria on Wednesday, citing corruption, organized crime, severe spending irregularities and alleged vote-buying in a country that only joined the EU last year. The move prompted Bulgaria’s opposition party to call for a confidence vote against the Socialist-led government, the sixth such motion since the government took office in 2005. Since the Socialists control 150 seats in the 240-member parliament, the government is expected to survive the vote. Full Story