The state promises more predictable and faster regional development: it is changing the rules, publishing schedules, and moving more money directly into the regions. After nine months, one billion euros had already been directed to the regions, and further steps aim to remove obstacles to projects. The focus is on water, spatial planning, and integrated projects that link municipalities as well as issues.
New rules and a billion in the regions
The Ministry of Regional Development has launched legislative changes, is adjusting public procurement, and is setting new conditions for EU funds as well as for the next cohesion policy period. The existing model of “least developed districts” is to be replaced by a system of priority districts with a bundle of indicators, since unemployment alone has weak explanatory value. The Government Council for Regional Development has been established, and the first wave of the partnership map has been launched, which involves municipalities in providing feedback on calls.
The ministry has pushed through publicly verifiable schedules of calls from EU funds and from the Recovery Plan, and is pressing for their observance across all ministries. Transparent information is meant to end the practice of “exclusive tips” and intermediaries who profited from uncertainty. The goal is to maintain the pace, thanks to which roughly a billion euros has already flowed into the regions, and at the same time improve project readiness.
Investment map and a “birth certificate” for every municipality
The so-called investment map is to bring stability and planning: first the published schedules, in the autumn supplemented with the Envirofond and the Swiss and Norwegian mechanisms. Within two years, a “birth certificate” for every municipality and town is to be added – an overview of needs from water supply and sewerage through collection yards to cycle routes. This also includes making state land accessible to municipalities and preparing a national plan for building water supply and sewerage systems.
The state also wants to update the Concept of Spatial Development of Slovakia, which has been out of date for 20 years, to set clear priorities for service coverage of the territory and the availability of public services. It is also a signal to Brussels: reduce fragmented intentions (today there are as many as 113) and better combine EU funds, the state budget, and financial instruments. In the area of water, the plan is to bring a clear financing model and involve water companies, as hundreds of municipalities still struggle with unfinished networks or complicated price regulation.
Integrated projects and stronger support for municipalities
Drawing on EU funds is to be accelerated thanks to binding schedules, broader feedback on calls, and planned adjustments to public procurement following the example of neighbors. The key to this period is integrated projects: either territorial, when several municipalities join together, or thematic, which combine measures from different calls. Cross-border regions and “functional territories,” which envisage joint projects with neighboring countries, are a special challenge.
The ministry wants to strengthen project management in the regions, renew and staff the partnership councils that decide on projects at the regional level. Regional centers are to be the first point of contact for municipalities and local partners so they receive timely and comprehensible information. The goal is clear: to better integrate partners, mobilize resources, and turn the vision into concrete investments in the regions.
