KDH Calls on Agriculture Minister Takac to Explain Funds Drawn under RDP 2014-22

Bratislava, 26 February (TASR) - Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) should give a more detailed explanation concerning the alleged 99.5-absorption rate in drawing funds under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for the 2014–2022 period, opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) representatives told a briefing on Thursday, also urging Takac to explain why the absorption rate for the 2023–2027 period is only 13 percent. "At the ministry's press conference, they claimed that the absorption rate was at 99.5 percent. We reject this. It doesn't seem right to us; we don't believe this could have been the case. We think that funds amounting to perhaps as much as €500 million are still 'hanging in the air'. We want answers to our questions," said KDH vice-chair Marian Caucik. The first question is how much Slovakia paid in fines, reduced reimbursements and final corrections for breaches of EU rules linked to the 2014–2022 budget period, said Caucik, stating that European Commission decisions appear to concern as much as €100 million in fines and corrections. Another question is the total amount of projects that were successful in calls but weren't implemented. In addition, KDH asked why the ministry has so far concealed complete and comprehensible data on the actual absorption of funds from the RDP for 2014–2022. "Our fourth question is how much money was returned to the RDP budget through so-called change procedures between 2023 and 2025 and where this money was transferred," stressed Caucik. He also criticised the ministry for failing to draw sufficient EU funds during the 2023–2027 period. "Minister Takac is acting like a dog in the manger, when €2.087 billion is available under the second-pillar package, with €1.316 billion available from EU funds and €770 million as planned national co-financing. Almost 80 percent of the budget period has already passed, and yet he's managed to announce calls worth €279 million, which is exactly 13 percent of all available funds," stated Caucik, who also urged Takac to reveal the timetable of calls for 2023-27 with a view to preserving continuity and predictability. jrg/df