A criminal complaint has been filed in connection with the uncontrolled preparation and construction of the industrial park in Valaliky
The serious findings of the Supreme Audit Office (SAO) on the inadequate, non-conceptual and non-transparent management of the project for the preparation and construction of the Valaliky Strategic Industrial Park in 2020-2023 will be followed up by legal action. On Thursday, 28th of November 2024, the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic and Minister of Economy, Denisa Saková, filed a criminal complaint in this matter on suspicion of violating the law.
"The SAO report has clearly confirmed that the preparation and construction of the strategic park in Valaliky was mismanaged by my predecessors. Between 2020 and 2023, representatives of the ministry made repeated and fundamental mistakes that increased the cost to the state and made the preparation of this park more expensive. They have also underestimated and even illegally concealed a number of surveys in the past, which has made construction even more expensive. That is why these huge omissions will be dealt with by the law enforcement authorities," said Minister of Economy Denisa Saková.
The construction of a number of industrial parks during the previous government was accompanied by serious shortcomings in management and control mechanisms. According to the SAO, there were delays which, in the case of the Valaliky industrial park, could lead to fines of up to EUR 22 million. The audit also found that investment contracts were disadvantageous to the state, only state-owned companies were threatened with fines, while investors were not.
"In addition, the supervisory boards of the main companies did not meet in 2021 and 2022 in accordance with their articles of association and did not submit a single report on their activities to the Ministry," added D. Saková.
In the case of the Valaliky Industrial Park, key factors such as geological conditions or groundwater levels were not taken into account, leading to significant delays and a cost increase of more than 100% - from €46 million to more than €92 million. Similar problems were found in Rimavská Sobota, where necessary surveys were missing and project documentation contained errors.
The Ministry of Economy considers the findings to be extremely serious and is taking steps to remedy the problems. "Thanks to intensive cooperation with investors and the professionalisation of processes, we are gradually overcoming these challenges and repairing the reputational damage. I am confident that, with the help of the current government, Slovakia will be able to fulfil its commitments to Volvo and at the same time attract more investors," says Denisa Sakova.
Based on the SAO's conclusions, the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic filed a criminal complaint in Kosice. At the same time, the Ministry of Economy adopted systemic measures for the management of strategic investments. The aim is to ensure the efficient use of public funds and to increase the confidence of foreign investors.
Press department MH SR