MEPs on the European Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control on Thursday 7 May called on Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš not to take part in negotiations on the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 until his possible conflict of interest is cleared up.
On a fact-finding mission to Prague last February to investigate possible conflicts of interest involving Mr Babiš, six members of this committee reported worrying testimonies (see EUROPE 12436/20).
Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, Germany), chair of the committee, said on Thursday: “We have provided very valuable information to the European Commission”. The mission found it difficult to carry out a “global audit” of all transactions from the granting of EU funds to the payment to beneficiaries, she added. “If the person concerned does not come forward, there is no conflict of interest”, the Czech interlocutors replied to the requests made by MEPs.
The Czech Prime Minister should not be able to continue to control a group like Agrofert while at the same time receiving large EU subsidies, say MEPs.
If a potential conflict of interest were confirmed, the individual would have to resolve it either by selling his business interests, stop receiving any public subsidies or funding, or stepping down as prime minister, MEPs said. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)