Slovakia has leapfrogged to the top among the best EU states in terms of using the money from the Recovery and Resilience Plan, Prime Minister Eduard Heger declared at a press conference on Thursday. According to him, the change happened after many long years of problems with the Slovak drawing of EU Funds. Heger underlined that what makes the Slovak Recovery Plan extraordinary is also the fact that more than a hundred experts had worked on it. Slovakia is in the top three EU states in some criteria regarding the drafting of the Recovery Plan and among the top seven quickest states when it comes to the payment requests. Slovakia has already sent a second request for payment to Brussels, with Spain being the frontrunner at sending three.
The Recovery Plan was conceived as the EU's response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and Heger held the post of Finance Minister at the time it was approved. He voiced appreciation for the fact that the EU has not simply decided to hand out loaned money but conditioned the grants on reforms.
The EU stated that the Recovery Plan must prioritise measures aimed at ameliorating the climate crisis and digitalisation. Out of €6 billion allocated for Slovakia, €2.3 billion are earmarked for the 'Green Slovakia' priority, €1.1 billion for the 'effective state and digitalisation', €892 million for the 'better education for everyone' and €1.533 billion for a 'healthier life for everyone'.
Source: TASR
