Three Regions Call for 40 percent of EU Cohesion Funds to Go to Regions

Bratislava, 16 July (TASR) - The framework for the new EU funding period must maintain a strong cohesion policy, with 40 percent of the funds earmarked for reducing disparities allocated directly by the regions as part of integrated territorial strategies, representatives of Banska Bystrica, Kosice and Presov regions have stated in a joint initiative announced at a press conference on Thursday. "In the coming days and weeks, decisions will be made at both the European and national institutional levels regarding whether cohesion - that is, the policy of balancing regional disparities - will continue to function. We're here because we don't want to repeat the mistakes of the current programme period, during which we've seen that over the past 20 years, the disparities between individual regions have widened rather than narrowed," said Banska Bystrica region governor Ondrej Lunter. The region representatives calculated that while the difference in GDP per capita between the poorest regions and Bratislava was approximately €9,000 when Slovakia joined the EU, it now stands at over €30,000. According to them, the most-developed Bratislava region has received the largest share of funding for integrated territorial strategies and sustainable urban development, even though these resources were originally intended for the least-developed districts. "When we calculate this per capita, the nationwide average from these sources is €445, but an inhabitant of Bratislava region received €554, even though Bratislava region is the most developed one," pointed out Lunter, highlighting the disparity in national co-financing and noting that the state contributes €189 million to European funds for Bratislava region, compared to €42 million for Presov region. "As a result, Bratislava region receives more money from tax revenues, more EU funds and more from the state budget. We've been pointing to this injustice for several years now, and we're calling on the government to intervene; we're calling on European institutions to intervene so that resources are distributed fairly," said Presov region chairman Milan Majersky. am/df