PS: New Construction Law Brings Delays and Bureaucracy

Bratislava, 7 July (TASR) – The new construction law, in effect since 1 April 2025, has failed to deliver on promises to streamline and speed up building permit procedures, instead creating confusion and increased red tape, the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party stated on Monday. "What was supposed to be a faster process has turned into a bureaucratic nightmare for both builders and municipal staff. We surveyed construction offices across Slovakia to find out how the new law works in practice — and the responses are alarming. Over three-quarters of offices reported longer procedures. Not a single office said that processes have genuinely sped up or become shorter. More than half of the officials said that training was inadequate, and they've had to seek out most of the information themselves. Only 7 percent said that the available information was sufficient," said PS MP Darina Luscikova. PS also pointed to implementation issues. According to the party, officials are uncertain about how to proceed, lack guidance and have no clear support from higher authorities. Complex and confusing forms are further complicating the situation, with builders often unable to fill them out them without assistance. PS called on Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) to provide clear and expert methodological support to local offices and to simplify the necessary forms. The party also urged the ministry to organise effective, practical training for staff. mf/df