Failed subsidy scheme for young farmers
The state allocated €20m to 400 young farmers below the age of 40 in 2016, to start new farms. Agriculture Minister Gabriela Matečná (SNS) now says that after three years, just half of the farmers are still in business. Since the subsidies were financed by EU funds, Slovakia is likely to have to return at least €10m to Brussels. Interestingly, a similar subsidy scheme for young farmers in Poland ended in the same way. The country was forced to return 40% of the subsidies to the EU.
