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Pociatek: We've Declared €365.143 to Brussels for Social Enterprises
Thursday 04 February 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - To date, Slovakia has declared as much as €365,143 with the European Commission to fund the so-called social enterprises launched last year by the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry. "Out of that total, €294.370 is sourced from the European Social Fund (ESF)," Finance Minister Jan Pociatek said in Parliament on Wednesday.
However, Pociatek underlined that the ministry does not pay the amounts directly to receivers. "Based on the contract on providing non-returnable financial contributions closed between the Social Affairs Ministry and a receiver, finances to cover the approved costs are transferred directly by the Social Affairs Ministry," explained the minister.
In total, as much as €3.41 million is allocated in Brussels to cover Slovakia's social enterprises, of which more than €2.74 million are to flow from the ESF.
Pociatek also confirmed that the eight currently running social enterprises are currently undergoing an in-depth audit by the Finance Ministry. Pociatek labelled questions on how, and if at all, will any corrections be made if necessary as hypothetical and premature.
Projects of social enterprises have been introduced by Social Affairs Minister Viera Tomanova to help those most vulnerable, disadvantaged and the long-term unemployed to re-access the labour market. However, these projects have been facing criticism for being overpriced and having a corrupt background. It was reported in mid-January that the European Commission had found significant shortcomings in the overall management of the social enterprises pilot project.
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