PS: New Construction Law Brings Delays and Bureaucracy (2)

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. "We recommend that the minister should issue a practical guide on minor construction projects — one that would help both average builders and local officials to understand what can and cannot be built and what qualifies as a minor structure. Right now, there's widespread confusion, with many believing they can build nearly anything without oversight," added Luscikova, stressing the need to revise the legislation. PS MP Stefan Kiss also criticised the government for failing to launch or complete promised infrastructure projects. He argued that Slovakia has become the worst country in the EU to do business in. "All our neighbors are investing more — both publicly and privately — while investments in Slovakia have dropped significantly over the past two years of this government. According to the European Commission's latest report, we are now the worst country in the EU for doing business, and that's something every investor will confirm," said Kiss. mf/df