Over the next few years, Slovenia will be eligible to over EUR 10 billion of EU funding, of which EUR 5.2 billion comes from the Recovery and Resilience Fund. “At the end of 2020, the Government took note of the activities regarding the development of the draft National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The proposal of the document will be approved by the Government after the Regulation establishing a Recovery and Resilience Facility is adopted by the European Parliament as foreseen in February 2020”, she said. “The measures and projects that we will be implemented with the help of the Recovery and Resilience Fund are crucial for Slovenia’s resilience and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which will be based on green and digital transformation”, she underlined.

“Despite efforts, the strategic approach to green transformation has been delayed for too long. Now that green transformation is at the very core of EU policies and numerous financial resources are available, we have the opportunity to make up for lost time”, said the State Secretary. We should, however, be aware that the transition to a low-carbon circular economy will not be fully supported with the available funds. The available funding should, therefore, serve as an incentive for attracting other public and private investors”, she stressed. As she explained, investment in the transition in not only necessary from the viewpoint of preserving the environment but also in terms of enhancing the resilience of society and the economy as a whole.

In line with the European Commission guidelines, Member States should focus 37% of the available funding on sustainable and green transition measures. “The current draft of Slovenia’s Recovery and Resilience Plan focuses over EUR 700 million of investments from grants and just under EUR 1.5 billion of investments from refundable funds on sustainable and green transition”, the State Secretary explained.

In the field of sustainable and green transition, the draft Recovery and Resilience Plan focuses on investments in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency in the economy, energy efficiency, climate change adaptation, water management, transition to a circular economy and sustainable mobility in the field of sustainable and green transition. As explained by the State Secretary, the competent ministries are expected to publish the first calls for proposals in the second half of 2021.

Slovenia will also support sustainable development measures with the funding available under European Cohesion Policy.