European Commission to Pay Fourth Recovery Plan Tranche to Slovakia (2)

Brussels, May 24 (TASR-correspondent) - Nothing stands in Slovakia's way to obtaining €923 million via the fourth recovery plan payment, Vice-premier for EU Funds and the Recovery Plan Peter Kmec and Justice Minister Boris Susko told TASR's correspondent in Brussels following talks at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels on Friday. "I can state that Slovakia has met all 15 milestones concerning the fourth payment request and therefore nothing stands in the way of obtaining €923 million from this request," said Kmec. Kmec at the same time noted that in addition to the successful implementation of the milestones and objectives of the recovery plan, communication with the European Commission on the state of the rule of law in Slovakia and some issues related to a recent amendment to the Penal Code is ongoing. Susko praised the approach of the European Commission so far, both at the political level in negotiations with the European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders and Vice-President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova, but also at the professional level with head of the Directorate-General for Justice. "We managed to clarify, resolve and conclude a lot of issues in the course of those consultations. There are still some open issues concerning some details, so we are waiting for clarifications, which we will communicate further," Susko explained, expressing his hope that the two parties will be able to work out the remaining details so that the issues related to the rule of law could be concluded as well. "The European Commission's interest is the same as ours. To protect the financial interests of the EU and our domestic interests in the field of justice," the minister remarked, pointing out that the European Commission is sensitive to all the changes made by the Slovak government, considering the protection of EU financial interests and the fight against corruption to be key. Bilateral communication is ongoing on these core themes. zel/mcs