Remisova Slams €286,000 Digital Services Promotion Campaign

Bratislava, 19 May (TASR) - Veronika Remisova, chair of the opposition party For the People, lambasts a promotion campaign worth nearly €300,000 commissioned by Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization (MIRRI). The campaign is intended to promote digital communication projects with the state financed through EU funds, which, according to For the People, were never implemented. In its response to TASR, MIRRI claimed that communication activities are a standard and mandatory part of EU-funded projects. According to Remisova, projects financed through Slovakia’s Recovery and Resilience Plan were meant to improve communication with the state in various life situations, such as changing permanent residence, selling a house or car, or seeking employment. "The only result that Minister Samuel Migal (independent) has left us in improving life situations is that although he did nothing, he at least promoted that nothing with 30-second videos and pointless advertising, wasting €286,590,” said Remisova, who plans to appeal to the European Commission as well. She said the contract output should consist of four 30-second video spots. In its response, MIRRI sent TASR one video promoting electronic applications. The ministry did not specify which other state services will be promoted. Remisova also criticised the procurement procedure, which consisted of two parts. The ministry first awarded a contract worth €127,920 for a creative concept and production proposal, placing the order in March without publishing the contract. A few days ago, it then signed another contract worth €158,670 with a different agency to produce the advertising spots. The production is to be handled by a company that has reportedly been on the market for around one year. The ministry did not respond to questions regarding the unreleased contract. Michal Sipos, chair of the 'Slovakia'-For the People parliamentary caucus, also joined the criticism, suggesting the advertising campaign could be linked to Migal's potential candidacy for governor of the Presov self-governing region. MIRRI underlined that the advertising spot contains no mention of the minister. According to the ministry, the campaign's goal is to inform the public about services and projects financed from public resources and their implementation in practice. "Promoting the Recovery Plan and components intended to make life easier through the digitalisation of state administration is exactly what the funds were used for. We are required to use the money for this purpose, otherwise we would lose it," Migal said in response. mf