Image: Weibold
The support measures handled by Agrarmarkt Austria (AMA) had “significant weaknesses”, among other things, proof of losses was not required, according to a current RH test report.
With the hardship fund directive and the special directive on compensation for losses, there was potential for multiple subsidies because several subsidies could be claimed at the same time. The Court of Auditors criticizes the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance allowed this, although the potential for excessive funding was already apparent when the hardship fund guideline was drawn up. In their statements, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Affairs indicated that the Court of Auditors’ recommendations would be taken into account in the future if similar support programs were required in the future.
By the end of 2021, corona aid of 178.5 million euros had been paid out to agriculture and forestry as well as to private room landlords. According to the Court of Auditors, 1,066 agricultural and forestry businesses and 917 private room rentals received 5.2 million euros more than the stated loss of revenue as part of the “Compensation for Loss of Income” funding instrument. For example, a loss of sales of 50 cents was enough to receive “compensation for loss of income” of 1,100 euros per application. Even with the lockdown sales replacement, the funding volume for 1,385 agricultural and forestry businesses and 2,303 private room rentals was a total of 4.54 million euros higher than the sales reported.
Source: Nachrichten
