Czech PM attacks ‘eurocrats’ over EU funds misuse suspicions
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PM Andrej Babiš delivered a speech at a lower house meeting about the European Commission’s draft audit report, which suggests Babiš has a conflict of interest.

The second richest man in the Czech Republic is accused of misusing EU funds. Babiš, whose party is affiliated to the ALDE group, is suspected of still owning the sprawling Agrofert chemicals, food and media group, which has received EU funds, despite having formally transferred ownership to trust funds to comply with the law.

Due to this case, the Czech Republic risks having to return €17.5 million in subsidies. “The dubious audit (is) an attack against the Czech Republic and I repeat once again that nothing will be returned,” Babis said. “The European bureaucrats despise Czech laws,” he added.

According to information obtained by the Czech News Agency (ČTK), European Commissioner Günther Oettinger wants the final audit report to be completed in September 2019, under this current Commission’s mandate.

Around 120,000 people took to the streets of Prague yesterday demanding Babiš’s resignation. The Financial Times reported that it was one of the biggest protests in the Central European nation since the 1989 Velvet Revolution.