Slovakia might lose €800 million if it does not manage to draw from EU funds, caretaker Premier Ľudovít Ódor stated recently. The opposition is claiming even billions are at stake. Vice-premier Livia Vašáková:
“It is not true we should lose billions. However, at the same time it is necessary to say that it is not realistic to use all allocated funds.”
4.29 billion euro stemming from the old programming period must be drawn by Slovakia by the end of this year at the latest. In the past, the country traded off with the European Commission using billions for other programs, for example during the Covid-19 pandemic, migration or energy crisis. What are the criteria for receiving the funds? Livia Vašáková explains:
“You can apply for anything. However, it is fundamental here to apply for projects we can really negotiate. So prolonging the timeframe of drawing for 4 or 5 years is not a solid alternative.”
State Secretary at the Ministry of Investment Barbora Lukáčová illuminates how efficient Slovakia is in drawing EU funds.
“If we take a look at the drawing scale for all resorts in the previous programming period compared to now, they are identical. The system as such takes the responsibility here for it. It is the way the Slovak Republic handled the EU funds.”
Caretaker Premier Ľudovít Ódor said on Wednesday that the country would lose 800 million euro if Slovakia does not do anything and just waits. He personally would push for drawing the funds.
Source: TASR
