Zilina Region Opposes €200 mn Freeze, Urges Government to Reverse Decision

Zilina/Bratislava, 8 July (TASR) – Zilina region has voiced its strong disapproval of the government's decision to freeze €200 million allocated for regional development. During its session on Monday (7 July), the regional council called on the Slovak government to revoke the resolution adopted on 18 June, according to the region's spokesperson Eva Lacova. "Zilina Self-Governing Region fundamentally disagrees with the government's decision to withhold €200 million designated for Integrated Regional Investment projects, especially without any prior consultation with regional authorities," said Zilina region governor Erika Jurinova. She warned that the move threatens the continuity of project planning and undermines trust between regions and the state. "Our regions need stable rules and predictability — not additional interventions that cast doubt on long-term agreements. If we want EU funds to be used effectively, the state must honour the partnerships that it claims to uphold," Jurinova emphasised. The governor added that implementing EU funds depends on a stable system, which has been disrupted by frequent methodological changes and delays in state-issued calls for proposals. Despite these challenges, as of 30 June 2025, Zilina region had approved 104 projects totaling €88.6 million and submitted 53 applications for non-repayable financial contributions worth nearly €59 million. mf/df