Agrofert is a Czech agricultural, food and chemical holding based in Chodov, Prague, founded by Andrej Babiš.

Headquarters of Agrofert Holding in Prague's Chodov, 2012
Headquarters of Agrofert Holding in Prague's Chodov, 2012Photo: Jklamo, 2012 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Agrofert is a large holding operating in agriculture, food production and the chemical industry, based in Chodov, Prague. The group was founded by Andrej Babiš, who in February 2026 placed his stake in Agrofert into the newly created trust fund RSVP Trust. Babiš insists that he does not own Agrofert [1].

Dispute with the European Commission

In September 2026 the European Commission suspended for six months the deadline for reimbursing EUR 3.18 million, or roughly CZK 77 million, from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). According to the Commission, the reason is the inadequate handling of a possible conflict of interest of Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš [1][2]. In a letter to the Czech authorities, the Commission said that it does not consider the measures taken to address Babiš's possible conflict of interest sufficient, pointing out, among other things, that the potential beneficiaries of the newly created trust fund RSVP Trust are Babiš's descendants and that, according to the Commission, the prime minister has information about its portfolio at his disposal [1].

Agriculture Minister Martin Šebestyán (for SPD) said in Brussels that the European Commission has not yet decided to exclude Agrofert from EU funding and that its step is merely an informal interim procedural measure, not a decision to suspend or exclude payments [1][2]. According to Šebestyán, the Státní zemědělský intervenční fond (SZIF) therefore cannot decide on its own to stop payments at this time, and the Commission now has half a year to finalise its position [1].

Šebestyán also clarified that the suspension concerns only rural development support from the EAFRD, not the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF), which pays, among other things, direct payments to farmers. According to the minister, the Commission does not see the possibility of a conflict of interest materialising for this fund, or considers it minimal, and therefore continues to reimburse payments to the Czech Republic [1].

Reactions

Petr Bendl, the agriculture minister of the ODS shadow cabinet, responded to Šebestyán's statement that the question is who will ultimately pay the bill if the European Commission does not recognise expenditure on subsidies for Agrofert. He said that the agriculture minister is supposed to protect the money of Czech taxpayers and that, if instead he is looking for arguments to keep sending money to Agrofert despite the European Commission's reservations, he must explain whose interests he is defending [1].

Agrofert is convinced that it acted in accordance with the law. Babiš previously said that he does not own Agrofert and that the European Commission's stance on his possible conflict of interest does not interest him. According to the Czech opposition, the prime minister deceived the president and citizens on the question of conflict of interest [1].

Chronology

  • — Minister Šebestyán said that the European Commission had not yet decided to exclude Agrofert from EU funding. → ČTK / České noviny FORUM 24

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Sources

  1. ČTK / České noviny — 28 September 2026
  2. ČT24 — 28 September 2026