Czech minister vows to solve EU subsidy trouble in three months Prague, Jan 3 (CTK) - Czech Education Minister Josef Dobes (Public Affairs, VV) today said his ministry´s problem with EU subsidies drawing is only technical and can be solved, and he promised to remove the trouble in three months. Dobes, who recently faced criticism over the EC´s audit-based decision to suspend the subsidies, keeps the ministerial post after a meeting with Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) today. Necas emphasised the need to solve the problem with subsidies drawing by April. He said Dobes promised him to do so. "It is a fact that most of the troubles date back to 2008 and 2009. The problems arising under the present government are mainly to blame on self-rule regions," Necas told journalists. The Necas cabinet was established in mid-2010. All regions except for Prague have been dominated by the opposition Social Democrats (CSSD). Necas said he had mentioned the "need for personnel stability"  as a condition for a smooth management of EU operational programmes. Five officials have gradually headed the ministry´s department responsible for subsidy drawing under Dobes. Necas expressed his reserved position on a possible dismissal of Dobes after his New Year´s luncheon with President Vaclav Klaus on Monday already. Dobes today said Necas understands the European funds issue and knows that the problems are only technical and can be coped with. Dobes has also been backed by the leadership of the VV, a junior government partner in Necas´s centre-right cabinet. Dobes spoke about political "hysteria" accompanying the problem. He alluded to Jan Vitula (TOP 09), his former subordinate in charge of EU operational programmes at the Education Ministry. Vitula told CTK on Monday that mismanagement and Dobes's chaotic personnel policy were to blame. "Instead of the original 180, the EU section now has 380 employees," Vitula said. The EU threatens to suspend the paying of subsidies from EU funds to the Czech Education Ministry on the basis of the EC´s audit that uncovered shortcomings in placing public tenders within the Education for Competitiveness Operational Programme. The Czech Republic may draw up to 53 billion crowns from the EU fund supporting education. "The EC...may suspend the EU subsidies but we will go on approving [projects] and use national money to cover them. The EC will pay it to us after it unblocks the money," Dobes said. Dobes has been criticised over the EU subsidies not only by the opposition but also by TOP 09, the other junior ruling party. TOP 09 deputy group head Petr Gazdik says Dobes should draw personal responsibility from his bad personnel policy and the latest troubles with EU subsidies. Earlier this morning, Dobes explained the situation to VV leaders. "He successfully defended his arguments," VV deputy chairwoman Dagmar Navratilova told CTK. "He definitely enjoys our support," VV deputy chairman Milan Stovicek said. "The pressure on Dobes was created artificially," said Karolina Peake, VV deputy head and Czech deputy prime minister. ($1=19.718 crowns) rtj/dr/ms 