In line with the historic agreement reached in July by European Union Member State leaders, Slovenia will be eligible to EUR 2.9 billion under European Cohesion Policy and EUR 1.6 billion under the Common Agricultural Policy. Slovenia will also be eligible to up to EUR 5.7 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, of which EUR 1.6 billion in grants and EUR 3.6 billion in refundable funds.

At the event State Secretary underlined that the epidemic has shifted the focus of allocating EU funds which are now being more focused on recovery and resilience. “Investments in healthcare, long-term care and restarting the economy will be crucial. In planning the use of European Cohesion Policy funds in the period 2021-2027 and the available funds under the Recovery and Resilience Facility we strive to realise the key goals of the European Union for the digital and green transformation of society and the economy”, she said.

European Cohesion Policy in the period 2021-2027

Regarding the planning of the use of the available European Cohesion Policy funds, State Secretary said that the Government is drafting three operational programmes. The first will cover the cohesion region Vzhodna Slovenija, the second the cohesion region Zahodna Slovenija and the third will define how to implement the Cohesion Fund. State Secretary said that in the period 2021-2027, the economy will also be able to use development funds available under various measures implemented by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, the Slovenian Enterprise Fund, the SPIRIT Public Agency and SID Bank. The funds will be used for small and medium-sized enterprises for various purposes, with the main focus being on investments in digital transformation and green projects. “It is very important that companies cooperate, not only with each other, but also with educational and research institutions”, she added.

Developing Slovenia's Recovery and Resilience Plan

State Secretary, who is also the head of the Government operational group for coordinating and promoting investment of EU funds #NGS2, presented the process of drafting Slovenia’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. The Plan should be developed if the Member State wishes to be eligible to the funding available under the Recovery and Resilience Fund. Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, together with ministries, started drafted the plan immediately after the agreement of the EU leaders on the budget was reached in July. Slovenia is one of the most active Members States when it comes to developing the document. “At the end of August, we presented to the Government the key grounds for the preparation of the document, and the first draft, which included reforms and structural measures, was approved by the Government on 8 October 8 2020. We have concluded the first in-depth discussion with the European Commission. Over the past few weeks, we have informed all development regions and their stakeholders about the process of developing the document, and now we have begun with meetings with the social partners and other interested public. Response to the content covered by the document is positive. Work on the document, which will be one of the most important documents for Slovenia’s recovery from the crisis after the COVID-19 epidemic, is intensifying. Regardless of the developments at the EU level, the Government is making every effort to coordinate the document at the national level already in 2021. Indeed, it is crucial that we are ready and that we start implementing the measures as soon as possible”, underlined State Secretary.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs stressed the importance of parallel planning of all available EU funds. “This is the only way which will enable us to design complementary measures that will multiply the effects bringing faster recovery, resilience and long-term development of the country”, she is convinced.

Presentation by State Secretary mag. Monike Kirbiš Rojs: Preparations for using the funds under multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 anf the instrument »Next generation EU«.