Slovakia hasn't drawn 60% of EU Structural Funds 2014-2020

When it comes to the European Structural Funds from the 2014-2020 programming period, 60 percent of the resources that have been allocated for Slovakia have yet to be drawn, which amounts to approximately €9 billion, according to Finance Minister Eduard Heger (OLaNO). "We have to claim it by the end of 2023. We need to spend this money very fast and effectively," stated Heger. While Slovakia is supposed to receive approximately €6 billion from the Next Generation EU fund, it should also be drawing another €13 billion from the next Structural Funds programming period. It's unclear at the moment whether Slovakia will be able to start drawing these funds on time, as the whole EU budget for 2021-2027 is on hold following the recent veto by Hungary and Poland.