KDH Questions Minister's Claim on 99-Percent Rural Funds Absorption

Bratislava, 16 February (TASR) - The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) challenges the claim by Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) of an almost 99-percent drawing of project support under the Rural Development Programme for 2016-25, KDH vice-chair Marian Caucik stated at a press conference on Monday. According to KDH, Takac included co-financing from the state budget in the overall figures, thereby distorting the real absorption of European resources. The party said that, based on data presented by the minister himself, the absorption of project support reached €1.562 billion. The total allocation from European Union funds amounted to €1.587 billion. "If we compare these two figures, the absorption rate comes to 98.8 percent, that is almost 99 percent. We are not saying the minister is not telling the truth, but let us explain how he arrived at this figure," Caucik added. KDH believes that the minister did not distinguish between European resources and the mandatory co-financing from the state budget in his presentation. As an example, they cited 2022, when according to data on the website of the Agricultural Payment Agency (PPA), €40 million were paid out, of which €29.5 million came from European sources and €10.5 million from the state budget, with co-financing accounting for 20 percent. The party stated that if state budget resources are included in the overall absorption, it creates the impression of higher drawing of European funds. "The minister presents the sums as absorption of European resources, but they also include co-financing from the state budget," they explained. According to their calculations, €1.580 billion from EU funds and €549 million from the state budget were available for the entire period, totalling €2.129 billion. When the declared absorption of €1.562 billion is subtracted from this sum, the difference amounts to €567 million. "These are funds that could have been used for the Slovak countryside, farmers, food producers or foresters," Caucik added. The Christian Democrats also pointed out that, in their view, the minister did not announce new calls for projects to a sufficient extent during his tenure. mf