EC Looks Into Subsidy Fraud In Slovakia: Uncovered By Murdered Journalist

Brussels, March 1 (CTK correspondent) – The European Commission (EC) asked today the respective Slovak authorities to provide information on a possible abuse of European funds for agriculture in connection with the murder of Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak, EC spokesman Alexander Winterstein has said.

 

The EC reacted to the suspicion of abuse of these subsidies in Slovakia, which emerged after the murder of Kuciak and his girlfriend.

 

According to the police investigators, last week’s murder of the 27-year-old journalist Kuciak and his fiancee, who were shot dead in his home in Velka Maca village, west Slovakia, was most probably motivated by his investigative work.

 

Kuciak’s last unfinished article, which Slovak media published this week, deals with links of top politicians, including people from the surroundings of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, to the Italian mafia. It also mentions possible abuse of the EU agriculture subsidies.

 

The EU member states are responsible for a legal use of European money, this is primarily their own responsibility, Winterstein pointed out.

 

The EC takes any similar accusation very seriously, he said.

 

The EC is aware of the Slovak media information and is examining the situation, he said, adding that the EC is now awaiting Slovakia’s reaction.

 

Representatives of the European Parliament (EP) might also go to Slovakia to look into the case, Manfred Weber, head of the European People’s Party strongest EP group, proposed this morning.

 

The EP observed a minute of silence in honour of Kuciak at its Wednesday session.