Sofia - Bulgaria is to set up an anti-corruption body to investigate widespread graft among top officials, the government announced Friday after facing EU criticism over its "piecemeal approach" to the issue.
The new body will review the income, property and conflict-of-interest declarations of some 6,000 high-level officials, Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva said.
In addition, a special unit will be tasked with investigating corruption and other crimes committed by former and current top officials.
Corruption figures broke a 15-year record in 2014, with officials receiving up to 158,000 bribes each month, according to the Sofia-based think tank Centre for the Study of Democracy.
Bulgaria joined the European Union along with neighbouring Romania in 2007, but both countries are still subject to a special monitoring mechanism overseeing their anti-corruption strategies.
AFP
