Opposition Parties to Convene Committee Sessions on Potential Misuse of EU Funds

Bratislava, May 5 (TASR) - The opposition parties are calling for special House committee sessions to approve a parliamentary inquiry into suspicions that EU funds have been misused for the construction of luxury private facilities, with the necessary signatures from opposition MPs expected to be collected by Tuesday (May 6), as reported by the Progressive Slovakia (PS) party at a press conference on Monday. "This is about a potentially huge misuse of European funds, which could lead to extensive corrections or even the suspension of EU funds for Slovakia," said MP Jan Hargas (PS). "Therefore, we'll call for House committee sessions. One of them will be of the European affairs committee because this concerns the use of EU funds, and we'll also convene a session of the agriculture committee at which we'll request the initiation of a parliamentary inquiry," the opposition MP explained. MEPs from PS have also initiated action at the European level, requesting the European Union's assistance and calling for immediate demands for Slovak managing authorities and relevant ministries to explain how these projects were evaluated and whether they operate according to approved rules and plans. "We're calling for the start of an independent investigation into the potential misuse of EU funds, and we also propose holding a joint hearing in the European Parliament to review these cases and, if necessary, determine the required systemic changes," added MEP Lucia Yar (PS). The Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party has also called for the environment and agriculture committees to meet. "It's absolutely unacceptable that taxpayers' money, both Slovak and European, is being used to build mansions for influential people with ties to government politicians," said MP Alojz Hlina (SaS). "The committee sessions will reveal who wants to cover up the embezzlement of EU funds and who is genuinely interested in investigating the situation. Let every MP clearly choose a side, either on the side of the public, or on the side of the EU fund barons," he added. lin/df