Brussels – On Friday, the Slovak Republic’s Minister of Investment, Regional Development, and Informatization, Samuel Migaľ (independent), along with State Secretary Radomír Šalitroš, took part in the EU Council meeting focused on cohesion policy in Brussels. They reported that the primary agenda revolved around adjusting cohesion policy to better align with the evolving priorities and challenges faced by the EU, as conveyed by TASR.
Migaľ characterized cohesion policy as a vital instrument for Slovakia to access EU funds while alleviating the financial burden on the national budget. He noted that discussions among Council members included the need for Brussels to respond effectively to the specific needs of various countries and regions.
“I appreciated Poland’s approach as the current presiding country of the EU Council, and I expressed our desire to learn from Poland’s successful strategies in accessing European resources,” Migaľ stated.
The ministers also tackled the establishment of the future multiannual financial framework, with Slovakia among the nations advocating for the preservation of cohesion funding. Migaľ emphasized the importance of these funds for regional development.
“Furthermore, the topic of financing the arms industry has emerged. Poland is keen on utilizing these resources, while some countries prefer that funding not be exclusively directed toward the arms industry but also cater to dual-use applications—both military and civilian. The discussions are aimed at determining the best approach to ensure funding aligns closely with the specific situations of individual countries rather than being dictated solely from Brussels,” the minister explained.
Migaľ confirmed that his ministry is organizing a working visit to Poland to gain insights from their successful methods of accessing EU funds. He coordinated details of the trip with Polish Minister for Development Funds, Katarzyna Pelczyńska-Nalecz. The visit to Warsaw is expected to include State Secretary Šalitroš.
“We will share experiences regarding EU fund utilization. Poland has established processes we aim to emulate, as they have been quicker in securing approvals and oversight. Conversely, we have certain practices that outperform theirs, allowing us to learn from one another,” Šalitroš remarked. He highlighted that Slovaks living near the Polish border are well aware of the significant advancements Poland has made over the past two decades, surpassing other Visegrad Four countries in several key indicators. He attributed this success to the more efficient management of EU funds to meet regional demands.
Migaľ underscored that improving access to EU funds would bolster the state budget, as all resources allocated for infrastructure projects like road and bridge repairs contribute to tax revenues. (March 28)
“The topic of financing the arms industry is coming to the forefront. Poland is proactive in seeking to utilize these resources. Some countries prefer that these funds not be exclusively for supporting the arms industry, but rather for dual-use initiatives, both military and civilian. Discussions are ongoing to find the right balance,” stated Samuel Migaľ.
Leave a Reply