Subsidies for the Agrofert holding were released by the Agricultural Fund only for projects contracted until August 2018, when stricter European regulations on conflicts of interest came into force. Money awarded after this date continues to be suspended as a precaution. Server iRozhlas.cz Now find out the specific companies and amounts.
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For example, the paid subsidy application of the Olma dairy dates back to 2016. In January this year, it received 65 million crowns for the project Innovation in the Production of Fermented Products. The company planned to use the novelties in production for the production of yoghurts with reduced lactose content, sour cream or milk drinks.
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The State Agricultural Intervention Fund unblocked money for older projects of companies from the holding at the end of last year, on the grounds that European money is not covered by domestic legislation on conflicts of interest.
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Thanks to this, the Kutná Hora chicken farm Výkrm Třebíč received a subsidy, for example, almost 40 million for investments in modernization – it bought, for example, transporters for chicks or eggs. Millions of pigs Lipra Pork and Animo Žatec also came to millions from the EU.
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He is waiting with more money
The payment of additional money that Agrofert companies have granted after August 2018 is currently suspended as a precaution. The head of the fund, Martin Šebestyán, said in January that they had not yet taken a clear position for the period.
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According to grant expert Lubor Lacina, who was approached by iRozhlas.cz, this procedure suggests that the agricultural fund is not sure about newer projects that the prime minister is not in conflict of interest. That is why he is cautious and waiting for the final verdict of the European Commission.
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Agrofert has rejected any mistake from the beginning and does not agree that Andrej Babiš, who transferred Agrofert to trust funds, would be in a conflict of interest.
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However, the final conclusions of the Brussels auditors are still awaited and will probably wait a long time. As Czech Television pointed out, in July the auditors requested the sending of additional materials, after which the six-month deadline for drafting the final verdict will run, whether the Czech Prime Minister is in conflict of interest due to drawing agricultural subsidies from Agrofert. However, the Ministry of Agriculture has already announced that it is going to defend itself by all possible means. The preliminary conclusions of the European auditors confirmed the conflict of interest.
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