Czech Republic may appeal EC’s refusal to pay out subsidies to Agrofert group founded by PM Babiš

The Czech Republic may to go to court over the European Commission procedure regarding subsidies for companies in the Agrofert conglomerate founded by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the Czech News Agency reported on Thursday.

In a press release, Ministry of Finance spokesman Michal Žurovec said that a letter through which the European Commission declined to pay out a subsidy for Agrofert subsidiary Fatra, a plastic producer, provides sufficient reason to seek a verdict from the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will represent the country. The next steps in the procedure will be coordinated together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mr Žurovec said is the press release.

Opposition party TOP 09 chairperson Markéta Pekarová Adamová said taking the issue to court is the wrong approach for the Czech Republic. Instead, she believes Mr Babiš should take personal responsibility for the subsidy affair.