Prague – The Czech Republic has less than six months to outline its priorities for the final round of European subsidies. The European Commission is expected to consider proposals for the programming period from 2028 to 2034 in the middle of next year. This is likely to be the last time the Czech Republic will be a net recipient of such funds, prompting the government to prepare accordingly. This was emphasized by Miloslav Kala, president of the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ), during the program “Questions with Václav Moravec” on Czech Television.
Over its 20 years of EU membership, the Czech Republic has received a net total of one trillion crowns in European funds. However, these resources have often been allocated to projects with minimal added value, failing to achieve their intended goal of elevating the living standards closer to those of Western Europe.
“We have a final six months for discussion, and we need to decide whether we want to be a country that constructs more observation towers and repairs sidewalks, or if we aspire to become a hub for startups and job opportunities, or if we want a well-defined housing policy,” stated Kala. He noted that there is a significant absence of a long-term strategy outlining how the Czech Republic intends to utilize European funds effectively.
The NKÚ has observed that, while the Czech Republic has evolved from initial challenges in managing European funds to a system that ensures the funds are fully utilized, there remains a lack of focus on the actual impact of these subsidies. Additionally, the pace at which the Czech Republic has approached the EU average in terms of development has slowed compared to several other countries that joined the union in 2004. Over the past two decades, the NKÚ has carried out 208 audits specifically examining the allocation of European funds. (January 19)
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