Slovakia will receive €34.1 billion from the European Union (EU) in the upcoming years, said Prime Minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO) after arriving back from the EU summit in Brussels on Tuesday, adding that a total of €40 billion should be available to the country along with a soft loan from the EU's recovery fund. Slovakia should thus be able to spend a record sum on projects of over €6 billion per year on average.
According to Matovič, Slovakia is to have at its disposal €8 billion from the current programming period, €7.5 billion from the renewal fund package and €18.6 billion from the seven-year EU budget for 2021-2027. Slovakia can still draw loans of up to €6.8 billion from the reconstruction fund, while its own co-financing of projects is planned at €2.9 billion.
Matovič considers this to be a great news for Slovakia. He pointed out, however, that it will be difficult to make the best use of the money. "Right now, we have an important task ahead of us. We will all have to consciously decide on responsible reforms wherever this money is to be invested," Matovič said.
President Zuzana Čaputová believes that the important thing is to invest the money in the development of Slovakia so that even future generations will benefit from it. "I am glad that an agreement has finally been reached and that the EU is united. This is good news for maintaining the stability of the entire EU and, at the same time, an unprecedented help for Slovakia," said the head of state. She added that in order for Slovakia to be able to make meaningful use of this financial help, it must unite "the best heads and prepare a very good plan".
EU leaders agreed early Tuesday on a total financial package of €1.82 trillion. The package includes the EU's recovery fund consisting of €390 billion in grants, €360 billion in loans, and a €1.074 trillion seven-year EU budget.
