National Parks Reform Under EU Review

The European Commission is expected to assess this week whether Slovakia has met a Recovery Plan milestone concerning the reform of its national parks. Environmental organisations warn that disputed government resolutions could jeopardise hundreds of millions of euros in Recovery Plan funding and undermine the reform. Environment Ministry State Secretary Filip Kuffa says the approved zoning plans threaten both the reform and the funding, while Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba (SNS nominee) rejects the claim, insisting that forest management is being transferred to the national parks.