“Slovenia has made good use of the available EU Cohesion Policy funds and has successfully begun with the implementation of the 2021-2027 programming period,” said Minister Jevšek at the beginning of the meeting.

According to Minster Jevšek, Slovenia supports the EU Cohesion Policy, which “defines cohesion as a form of balanced regional development and gives regions a more central with greater authority. This is why Slovenia will amend its Promotion of Balanced Regional Development Acts, which will listen to the needs of municipalities and regions. In doing so, Slovenia’s development will become more balanced at the national level as well as at the European Union level,” said Minister Jevšek.     

When the ministers discussed the future of EU Cohesion Policy and its priorities post-2027, Minister Jevšek underlined once again that Cohesion Policy should remain the main long-term investment policy of the European Union with its role not being reduced to merely an emergency-response instrument. 

Minister Jevšek also pointed out that “Cohesion Policy should not be conditioned by reforms, but it should rather be the driving force behind the reforms.” With regard to the post-2027 multiannual financial framework, Minister Jevšek underlined that Slovenia supports simplifying the design and implementation of the EU Cohesion Policy: “It should contain a smaller number of programmes, funds and instruments with similar objectives and actions for a greater impact of strategic planning, more flexibility and fewer administrative burdens. This is particularly important for smaller regions and member states with limited administrative capacities. I believe that more trust is key to further simplifying the design and implementation of programmes, including their monitoring and modification.”