Parliament on Thursday approved an amendment to the Act on the Provision of Subsidies under the Economy Ministry's Remit that introduces state subsidies for businesses facing high energy charges. Companies will have to apply for the subsidy. Its maximum amount, the length of the period in which companies will be eligible to receive it and the eligible costs for determining the amount of the subsidy will be decided by the Economy Ministry. Companies subject to sanctions adopted by the European Union will not be eligible. The bill introduces an obligation for electricity and gas suppliers, distribution system operators and distribution network operators to provide the ministry with the necessary information to assess a subsidy application. The amount per megawatt-hour of gas and electricity in relation to the amount of the subsidy will be set by a Government decree. The legislation was supported by 136 out of the 138 MPs present. Moreover, the launch of the court map reform will be delayed by five months, from January 1, to June 1, 2023, according to a law amendment concerning new seats and districts of courts approved by Parliament on Thursday. The draft amendment was treated in a fast-track legislative procedure. The Justice Ministry declared that the reform-related commitments to the recovery plan would be duly met. MP Jana Bitto Ciganikova (SaS) was ousted from the post of House Health Committee chair, sponsored by independent MP Martin Cepcek. He claimed that Bitto Ciganikova lacked the necessary expertise and character to chair the committee. He also blamed her for misusing her standing to promote a progressive ideological agenda.
Source: TASR
