Kolikova: Susko Fails to Meet Targets of Recovery and Resilience Plan

Bratislava, 4 July (TASR) - The Justice Ministry is struggling to meet several key targets in the national Recovery and Resilience Plan, including renovations of court buildings and the modernization of the Slovak Business Register, former justice minister (2020-22) and SaS vice-chair Maria Kolikova warned on Friday. Kolikova criticized current Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD) for prioritizing other interests over fulfilling the plan, which she says puts crucial EU funding at risk. Kolikova emphasized that the recovery plan offers vital funding for reconstruction, renovation, and acquisition of court buildings. „Judges of the Bratislava III and IV District Courts could have been working in a new building a long time ago,” she said at a press conference on Friday. She pointed out that Minister Susko initially canceled the selection of a building for the Bratislava III District Court — endangering the milestone — only to select the same building a year later at a higher cost and with a delay. Another milestone involving the modernization of the Business Register is also at risk, according to Kolikova. „Not only is it not being fulfilled - it’s in jeopardy, and I fear we will simply lose that funding,” she said. She also criticized the ministry’s lack of data on the state of the justice system, which she argues prevents informed decision-making. „The recovery plan was a historic opportunity for the justice sector. Over €200 million — equivalent to a full year’s justice budget — could have been used for court renovations and for creating dignified conditions for judges, staff, and the public,” she said, accusing Susko of focusing instead on personal and coalition-linked interests. mf