BRATISLAVA, September 3, (WEBNOVINY) – Talks about EU finances that will be allotted to Slovakia for the period after 2014 will start in the autumn. Following the meeting with EC Member responsible for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn, Transport Minister Jan Figel announced that Slovakia could get almost the same amount for 2014-2020 as in 2007-2013, namely more than EUR 11 billion. “We will start talks as of October, when we expect the European Commission to submit concrete proposals. We want Slovakia’s share on the cohesion policy to be at least at the current levels in terms of intensity and volume,” Figel told reporters Saturday.
The EC tabled the draft budget for EU structural funds in June. Slovakia could preserve the same volume of finances, according to Hahn. As Figel said, Slovakia should reduce the number of operational programs in the future reference framework from the current eleven. The KDH leader said he wanted to direct the negotiations with the EC to attain efficient cohesion policy and shift the focus on real priorities. Figel believes there should be fewer priorities but more “real” priorities. In his opinion, transport infrastructure should be included. Hahn thinks that EU states should direct more attention at the support for small and medium-sized enterprises. Figel further called for elimination of the red tape in the use of EU money.
SITA