Monitoring Committee approves amendments to Slovenia's EU Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027
Marko Koprivc, State Secretary at the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development and Chair of the Monitoring Committee for Slovenia's EU Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027 | Author Ministrstvo za kohezijo in regionalni razvoj
The government and both cohesion regions have already given green light to Programme amendments that will now be submitted to the European Commission by the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development. The amendments include numerous measures aimed at accelerating absorption of funds and supporting strategic projects that will contribute to Slovenia’s progress in infrastructure development, research, disaster resilience and to economic growth.
Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development Dr Aleksander Jevšek underlined in his opening remarks that the adopted measures were crucial for Slovenia’s development. ‘’On the one hand, we invest in key infrastructure. On the other hand, we invest in knowledge and growth-oriented economy. This already charts a course for Europe’s and Slovenia’s direction in the period beyond 2027,’’ he said.
The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform or STEP will be introduced as part of the amendments. STEP will make EUR 100 million available to boost investment in critical technologies in Europe and help reduce Europe's strategic dependencies. A large portion of this funding will be earmarked for cutting-edge research infrastructure that will catalyse breakthroughs in Slovenia's economy. Upgrading of the Ljubljana railway station will come as another important addition to the Programme. The project will receive EUR 205 million. As much as EUR 32 million will go for the project ensuring flood protection in Žalec, Celje and Laško, EUR 18.3 million for rescue, civil protection and disaster relief services, including the national civil protection centre, EUR 44.3 million for the northern part of the third development axis, EUR 12.1 million for the early warning system, EUR 17 million for cutting-edge research equipment which will help boost science-industry collaborations, and a total of EUR 8 million for the largest archaeological museum, the castle granary in Ptuj. Investments in knowledge and competences will also increase.
At today’s meeting, Monitoring Committee members and representatives of the European Commission took note of the state of play of implementation of the Programme and of the progress made in the fulfilment of enabling conditions, the strengthening of administrative capacities and the implementation of strategic operations.