Remisova Draws Attention to Suspect Contracts at Investment Ministry (2)

Bratislava, 8 June (TASR) - Opposition MP Veronika Remisova ('Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus) has drawn attention to what she considers to be suspect contracts with companies concluded by the Investment, Regional Development and Informatisation Ministry as part of a call for digital innovation worth €58 million. "I consider this to be outrageous. This is European money, as it comes from the recovery plan, and we'll file a complaint with the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO)," said Remisova on Monday, adding that Investment Minister Samuel Migal (Independent) should disclose the evaluators, the ranking and the benefits of the projects. "We demand that this information should be made public," stated the MP, adding that Migal is "absolutely ripe for an ouster". The lawmaker mentioned a €1.2-million grant to a company based in a prefab apartment building with fictitious revenues, a non-existent phone number, and a history that, in her view, resembles a shell company and 'white horses' [in Slovak, the term 'white horse' denotes a front to hide illegal activities - ed.note]. Remisova stated that the minister approved another €1.3-million subsidy for a company that has no employees or revenues. "The project is supposedly going to be implemented at some site where no one has ever been seen. And, by the way, that project was supposed to be about improving marketing within their own company," she said. According to the lawmaker, another company that operates an online store selling lighting fixtures was set to receive €1.3 million. As in other cases, it registered "research and development" as its business activity a month before the call for proposals was announced. "They signed the contract on 6 May, and the implementation period runs until 30 June," noted Remisova. In her view, it's difficult to write a good, innovative project in such a short time, and implementing it is impossible. A company specialising in healthy eating was set to receive €1.2 million to create personalised meal plans. "If you enter your weight, height and how much weight you want to lose into ChatGPT, you'll get a personalised meal plan, and it won't cost you a single euro, but Minister Migal intends to fund this with public money," added Remisova. The ministry said in response for TASR that Remisova's comments primarily demonstrate a lack of understanding of how the grant scheme for supporting digital innovation works. It advised her that if she has specific suspicions of a violation of the law, she should submit them to the relevant authorities. "First and foremost, it's important to emphasise that these aren't projects that were created overnight just to obtain a grant. The call for proposals was announced back in November of last year, and companies had ample time to prepare their innovative solutions," noted the ministry, adding that many of them have been engaged in research and development for a long time and certainly didn't begin innovating only after the call was published. According to Investment Ministry, the claims that give the impression that the state is handing out money without risk and without oversight are equally misleading. "Under this scheme, a maximum of 60 percent of eligible costs may be financed from public funds. Every successful applicant must therefore finance at least 40 percent of the investment from their own resources. If anyone claims that companies are receiving millions of euros without any contribution of their own or business risk, they are simply not telling the truth," pointed out the ministry. "Furthermore, the ministry cannot act arbitrarily and exclude applicants based on media impressions, political statements, or subjective assessments of their reputation. The ministry is bound by clear rules and legal procedures," it stressed. NOTE: This story has been extended to include final four paragraphs. am/df/am