The European Commission wants to reclaim the EUR70 million (US$100.7 million) subsidies granted to 80 Bulgarian meat and milk processing companies.

The Commission said these companies were involved in fraud.

A July 31 statement from the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture also said the companies have been claiming too much money for projects that are being subsidised by the EU.

More Bulgarian companies were initially on the fraud list but 15 have been removed from the list after talks with the Bulgarian authorities.