Barely used machinery, senselessly squandered EU billions – serious findings in an ÁSZ report

The State Audit Office revealed serious abuses regarding EU-funded machinery acquisitions, as reported by Népszabadság. The audit examined thirty business development projects that utilized 3.1 billion HUF in EU support from programs announced in 2021 and 2025. The GINOP grants aimed to enhance the efficiency of SMEs in underdeveloped regions. However, only five out of twenty projects were deemed successful, with significant issues found in machinery purchases. Some equipment remained nearly unused after several years, and violations of maintenance obligations were identified in three projects, prompting irregularity proceedings. Additionally, concerns arose regarding the effectiveness measurement of the projects and the geographical distribution of funds, with a portion allocated to businesses in more developed areas like Budapest.