Brussels – The primary focus of Tuesday’s discussions between Peter Kmec, Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister for the recovery and resilience plan and knowledge economy, and European Commission (EC) representatives was Slovakia’s request for a payment of 570.4 million euros. Kmec assured that Slovakia will not forfeit any amount from this payment, according to a report by TASR.
During the meeting, Kmec engaged with European Commissioner for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Valdis Dombrovskis, and Céline Gauer, Director-General of the Recovery Plan Section, at the EC’s headquarters.
“We assessed the successful completion of the fifth payment request of 570 million euros, which is currently under review for approval. I can confirm that these funds should be deposited into Slovakia’s account in May,” he explained.
Kmec also noted that simultaneously, a revision of the recovery plan is being carried out, during which previously unrealistic goals have been modified into achievable targets worth 450 million euros. These funds will be allocated to projects such as building kindergartens and primary schools, social service homes, and the construction and renovation of hospitals.
He highlighted that Slovakia has met all milestones and objectives associated with the fifth payment request from the recovery plan, with the exception of one related to the expropriation of private land in national parks. This milestone, valued at 27 million euros, is currently under revision, meaning it will not be lost and can be redirected to alternative measures. Kmec mentioned that EC experts acknowledged specific technical issues contributing to the unmet milestone and agreed to reallocate the funds to other areas.
The European Commission also plans to approve the sixth and seventh payments to Slovakia this year, expecting around one billion euros in June and an additional 550 million euros in October.
Another topic discussed with Commissioner Dombrovskis was the reconstruction of Ukraine and the cooperation between Slovakia and Ukraine across their border, focusing on implementing strategic projects in the border area. Kmec confirmed that all initiatives supporting Ukraine’s integration efforts are advancing effectively, including the expansion of border crossings, improvements to road and railway infrastructure, and upgrades to electrical networks. He also noted that preparations are underway for the third joint meeting of the Slovak and Ukrainian governments, although a date has yet to be established. (April 8)
“We assessed the successful completion of the fifth payment request of 570 million euros, which is currently under review for approval. I can confirm that these funds should be deposited into Slovakia’s account in May.” Peter Kmec
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