Czech PM stands by education minister Dobes over EU funds Lany, Central Bohemia, Jan 2 (CTK) - Education Minister Josef Dobes (Public Affairs, VV) cannot be blamed for the problems with drawing money from EU funds at the Education Ministry, Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democratic Party, ODS) told journalists today. The payment of EU subsidies to the Czech Education Ministry will be probably temporarily suspended as the European Commission's audit found out mistakes in the placing of public orders within the Education for Competitiveness programme, the ministry told CTK on December 29. The Czech Republic can draw up to 53 billion crowns from the programme. According to a preliminary report, the EC audit revealed shortcomings in the control system and in several projects carried out both by regions and the ministry. Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek (TOP 09) said it was obvious from the EU assessment that the Education Ministry would suffer a financial loss. Kalousek said it was also evident from the EU assessment that some projects would be paid for, while others would be corrected or halted. Dobes says he is a target of TOP 09 representatives' attacks, while Kalousek, too, is responsible for drawing EU subsides for the Czech Republic. Necas said the Operational Programme Education for Competitiveness had faced problems since its beginning and difficulties with drawing EU funds reached at least four years back when Dobes had not yet headed the ministry. Dobes said in a press release for CTK today that he had "inherited" the situation with drawing EU money. "It should be put clearly that the problem did not start with Dobes's having taken up the office," Necas said. "I do not say that I am convinced that the current Education Ministry management has not taken some steps it ought not to have taken," Necas said. However, the situation cannot be summed up with simple slogans and "a single person" cannot be blamed for the problem, he added. Dobes said in the press release it was still in his force to resolve the emerged problem. "I will also prove that I am carrying the legacy of the former leadership of the EU funds section, formerly dominated by Jan Vitula, a member of (the government) TOP 09," Dobes said. Dobes said with the new leadership of the section he had managed to speed up the drawing of EU subsidies. He said he had managed to eliminate "many defects mentioned in the EC audit." Vitula said the number of civil servants in charge of EU funds had doubled under Dobes, but still their drawing was not working. Mismanagement and Dobes's chaotic personnel policy were to blame, Vitula told CTK today. "Instead of the original 180, the EU section now has 380 employees," Vitula said. Vitula said when Dobes had come to the ministry (in July 2010), his team had drawn up an analysis under which another 30 employees were to be hired to control the projects. Vitula said Dobes had dismissed the idea, arguing that sacking was needed. Vitula then left the ministry. He said Dobes had sacked experienced civil servants and then hired new ones who were unable to cope with the complicated administrative tasks. Petr Gazdik, head of TOP 09 deputies, said Dobes should draw responsibility over the affair. On the other hand, the VV supports Dobes who is yet to meet Necas over the scandal. ($1 = 19.718 crowns) pv/dr/ms 