Zeman: Regions better at drawing EU money than gov't

Prague, March 13 (CTK) - Czech regional self-rule authorities operate better than the government and they are first of all more successful in drawing EU subsidies, new President Milos Zeman told the regional governors yesterday.

He pointed out that the cabinet of Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) "called itself the government of budgetary responsibility is now returning tens and tens of billion crowns to Brussels due to mistakes of its ministers."

In reaction to Zeman, Necas said later yesterday his cabinet has been saving money while the regions generate debts.

Zeman said the money returned to the EU could have been used for useful projects in the Czech Republic, Zeman said.

He said the government returned about ten times more money than the regions to Brussels.

He nevertheless recalled that there were problems with drawing EU subsidies in regions, too.

The Czech police prosecute former officials in charge of regional operational programmes over suspected manipulating EU subsidies.

Zeman said the fact that he preferred meeting the governors of Czech regions to his first meeting with the cabinet shows that he considers the regional self-rule bodies highly important.

Zeman, who was inaugurated last Friday, said he would probably meet the coalition government next week.

Necas said in reaction he did not consider it crucial that Zeman preferred meeting the regional governors.

"The president may say whatever he wants," he said after a regular cabinet meeting yesterday.

In his press statement later yesterday, Necas said it does not surprise him that Zeman has preferred meeting representatives of the regions that are controlled by the leftist parties.

Zeman said he as president would visit Czech regions far more often than foreign countries.

Most regional governors represent the opposition Social Democratic Party (CSSD) whose leader Zeman was in the 1990s and early 2000s. Zeman left the CSSD in 2007 and he is now honorary chairman of the small Party of Citizens' Rights (SPOZ). The SPOZ formed a coalition with the CSSD in two regions.

Necas, in his reaction to Zeman's c criticism, said that "under the CSSD's rule the regions' debts grew more than the state's. The volume of administrative staff's pay alone rose by 10 percent in the regions in 2009-2011, while it declined by 9 percent in the state administration in the same period," Necas pointed out.

"As far as the comparing of [the drawing of money from] the European funds by the regions and the government is concerned, I wouldn't be as optimistic as the regional governors are," Necas continued.

He said not quantity but mainly the quality and effectiveness of the [Czech EU-subsidised] projects is important.

As a symbol of the regions' managerial practices he gave David Rath, a deputy and the CSSD's former Central Bohemia governor faced with corruption charges.

Michal Hasek (CSSD), head of the Association of Czech Regions, said he believes Zeman may play the role of a mediator between the regional representatives and the right-wing government.

Necas dismissed the governors' complaints about bad communication between them and the government.

Hasek recalled yesterday that the regional governors supported Zeman in the direct presidential election against his rival, Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg (TOP 09).

He said the governors were looking forward to Zeman's trip to individual regions.

Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda (ODS) who was invited to the meeting as well apologised for family reasons.

($1=19.656 crowns)