The Slovak government is failing to provide food packages for the country’s poorest residents, despite having funds allocated by the European Union (EU) for this purpose. Coalition representatives are not utilizing these funds, a point raised by opposition KDH representatives on Wednesday, December 11.
"Through the European Social Fund, we have the opportunity to use 63.5 million in this programming period to provide the most needy families or individuals, families with dependent children, with the most basic assistance, which are either food packages or hygiene packages. This mainly concerns the basic needs that these families have and cannot afford," said MEP Miriam Lexmann (KDH).
"There is a really big difference between words and deeds when we talk about having this opportunity. These families have been waiting for ten months to receive another package," she added. With rising food and energy prices, as well as increasing taxes, vulnerable groups are at risk of being pushed into poverty.
KDH has called on Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family Erik Tomáš (Hlas-SD) to address this issue immediately and deliver the much-needed packages. "This help is not coming. That is why I want to call on the minister not to talk about social assistance, but to act. These people are waiting and sounding the alarm and asking for help," said Milan Majerský, chairman of the movement.
Source: STVR
