Watchdog: Ministry of Industry failing to support regeneration of brownfields in Czechia

Between 2018 and 2023, the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) allocated 5.06 billion CZK to support 415 brownfield regeneration projects for business use, covering less than 10% of the country's registered brownfields, according to the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ). While the program reduced the number of brownfields, it fell short of the ministry's original goals. Businesses, particularly through the EU-funded OPPIK program, showed the most interest, receiving 4.2 billion CZK for 357 projects. However, concerns were raised about potential inefficiencies, particularly regarding financial intermediaries' fees.