SaS: Criminal Complaint Over Energy Aid Handled by European Prosecutor's Office

Bratislava, 26 February (TASR) - The criminal complaint filed by the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party in connection with targeted energy aid will be handled by the European Public Prosecutor's Office, SaS MPs Branislav Groehling and Karol Galek told a press conference on Thursday. "A few days ago we received information from a prosecutor that this criminal complaint has been forwarded to the European Public Prosecutor's Office. This shows that it was very well written and also that money was indeed squandered," said Groehling. Galek pointed out that there are errors in the energy assistance system and that money may be received by people who aren't entitled to it. At the same time, there are cases in which households that are entitled to energy assistance don't receive it. "This is a failure in the management of public assets, of public finances that come from the state budget, to which we all contribute via our taxes and levies," said the MP. The EP should investigate energy assistance because part of the funds are to come from EU funds. When totting up the misappropriated funds, SaS based its calculations on information that the error rate for energy assistance is 10 percent, which is about €40 million. However, Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) has cited a different figure in a discussion programme. "Inconsistent data has affected the payment or granting of energy assistance to 1-1.5 percent of households," she stated. am/df