Ljubljana – Recent months have seen an increase in the utilization of cohesion funds in Slovenia. Previously at the bottom of the rankings for allocated funds in the first half of the year, Slovenia is now positioned mid-table, aligning with the average of EU member states. The cohesion ministry anticipates this positive trend will continue into 2026.
As per the latest data from the European Commission, Slovenia has received over 2.6 billion euros in allocated funds, representing 58 percent of its share from the 2021-2027 multiannual framework (which includes 3.2 billion euros in cohesion funds and approximately 1.3 billion euros in national co-financing). This places Slovenia just above the EU average, alongside countries like France and Finland.
However, Slovenia’s performance in terms of actual payments from the EU budget is less favorable. With only around 12 percent of the allocated cohesion funds drawn from EU resources, it remains at the bottom of the rankings, trailing behind Croatia, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, and Spain.
Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development, Aleksander Jevšek, believes that Slovenia’s upward trajectory will continue in the forthcoming months. He attributes the recent acceleration in fund utilization to the springtime changes to the European cohesion policy program for 2021-2027, specific operational measures to enhance fund drawing, and the initiation of regional development agreements and integrated territorial investment mechanisms by urban municipalities. (23 December)
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