BRATISLAVA, November 26, (WEBNOVINY) — The Cabinet of Robert Fico has a new Deputy Prime Minister in charge of large investment projects. Former Transport Minister Lubomir Vazny (SMER-SD) will serve in this newly created post. He was appointed on Monday by the President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gasparovic. According to the approved law that changed the government structure, his responsibility will primarily be to ensure the coordination of large investment projects with estimated costs of over EUR 1 billion. According to the draft statute, he should also supervise large investment projects with government participation with expected costs of up to EUR 1 billion, based on a Cabinet decision.
The Deputy Prime Minister for Investment should also coordinate the use of European Union funds in the next programming period 2014 to 2020, as well as the preparation of the Partnership Agreement for the years 2014 to 2020 at the national level. For this reason, he is to become the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet’s Partnership Agreement Council. These activities are currently carried out by the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development.
After his appointment to the position, Vazny said it will be necessary to adopt a strategy of long-term economic development of Slovakia and also said his ambition is that this document would not only be approved by the Cabinet, but also supported by the entire political spectrum.
Another duty of the Deputy Prime Minister for Investment should be to assess whether major investment projects are realistic and necessary, as well as to present to the Cabinet feasibility studies of specific proposals and funding proposals for their construction. Additionally, he should develop a strategy for the economic development of Slovakia, which should include the concept of development programs for the economy. According to Vazny, it will be important to adjust conditions for better use of EU funds, which should be simplified, accelerated, and red tape eliminated.
According to President Gasparovic, greater attention should be paid to the use of EU funds. Gasparovic expressed his belief that future major decisions of Minister Vazny in his future position will eliminate even a hint of corruption in approvals of large investment projects.
SITA