BRATISLAVA, May 23, (WEBNOVINY) — Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said at a news conference after a meeting with Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn that the European Commission is expected to approve the use of EUR 79 million from the Operational Program Transport for construction of the Hricovske Podhradie – Strazov highway section in June. Slovakia and Brussels are continuing their talks about planned construction of highway stretches Dubna Skala – Turany, Hubova – Ivachnova, Janovce – Jablonov, Fricovce – Svinica, Turany – Hubova for EUR 1.5 billion. The subjects of talks are the objections raised by NATURA 2000 ecological network, which means that the parties are fine-tuning environmental impacts of the planned projects.
Hahn emphasized that he was aware of the importance of highway construction in Slovakia. In his words, first and foremost Slovakia must use all funds allocated in the Operational Program Transport. Afterwards, the Commission will communicate about options to reallocate money from other operational programs. The prime minister announced that the first step on this path was the reallocation of money in the Operational Program Transport but not of finances earmarked for railways. There is EUR 3 billion in the Operational Program Transport, with EUR 250 million allotted for railways. The remaining sum can be reallocated. In case that this volume will not be sufficient, money may be transferred from other operational programs, too. Slovakia needs more than EUR 400 million for the above highway projects.
The prime minister further said that Slovakia drew five percent from its operational programs a year ago, and occupied the seventh worst position in terms of EU structural fund use. Radicova sees behind this poor performance the set priorities and unbelievable bureaucracy that accompanies the drawing. The process of submitting projects has discouraged many entities from applying for the EU money. The Cabinet eliminated sixty-eight core barriers and passed measures to quicken and simplify the drawing. Hahn admitted that the Commission was concerned whether Slovakia would manage to use the money available. He is now convinced that the adopted measures will expedite the entire process. The Cabinet’s instruments have potential to bolster the use of the money.
Radicova reminded that Brussels in the past refused to refund several projects because some costs were not acknowledged as eligible or due to absence of contests. Slovakia has to provide this money from state coffers. The ministries came up with more stringent rules as the number of rejected projects grew, which ultimately disabled drawing. She mentioned among such cases the pilot social companies, reconstruction of the passenger terminal at the Bratislava Airport and some projects at the Defense and Interior Ministries.
SITA