There is no threat of the European Commission suspending subsidies from EU
structural funds, regardless of mistakes in relevant Czech audits,
according to deputy regional development minister Daniel Braun. After
meeting with EC representatives on Friday Mr Braun said that he and his EU
counterparts had agreed on the steps the Czech Republic should take in
order for the EC not to suspend Czech operational programmes. While he
confirmed the EC could stop the subsidies in the event of major problems
with the programmes, he said this was not imminent. The EC´s criticism
regards the Czech system of auditing, inspections and human resources
stability, particularly in the Education Ministry, where the EC suspended
the payment of 1.2 billion crowns.