Slovenia receives 1.5 billion euros from the recovery and resilience fund in ten installments. So far, it has received an advance of 280 million and the first installment, which puts it on the tail of the members. According to forecasts, a second payment request will be sent to Brussels today.
The European Commission established the Recovery and Resilience Fund at the outbreak of the epidemic, which also borrows from the financial markets. Countries thus receive grants. All members, including Slovenia, have already received an advance of 280 million euros from the fund. Slovenia received another 50 million euros in the first tranche, and today the Slovenian Office for Recovery and Resilience will send a second request to Brussels, which consists of the second and third tranches of grants and the first tranche of loans, Radio Slovenija reported.
As the Radio Slovenia journalist explained Zdenka Cod, the size of the amount is difficult to estimate because the government has changed the withdrawal plan in the meantime, and the European Commission has not yet approved it. If the original plan were to apply, the second and third installments would total 460 million, and the first installment of loans would amount to 300 million. So Slovenia would receive a total of over 700 million.
When the withdrawal plan is changed, the amount will most likely be lower, as the second request requires the fulfillment of 44 milestones and goals, while 60 were foreseen in the previous one. The changed plan will now be evaluated by the European Commission, so the amount of the amounts will probably be known until the end years. Then there is a review of the fulfillment of the set milestones and goals, so that Slovenia could receive the funds in the spring.
Reforms and investments will have to be rushed – funds are available until the end of 2026
A wide range of areas is included among the 44 goals and milestones that are a condition for drawing funds. “First of all in the area of reforms – among other things, the law on the supply of electricity, the law on the promotion of investmentsan amendment to the Housing Act, plans for the development of broadband networks and a strategy for the development of the capital market were adopted,” the director of the Slovenian Fund for Recovery and Resilience explained to Radio Slovenia Josip Mihalic.
“However, when we talk about the investment part of the plan, I can mention the tendered funds for drinking water supply projects and municipal waste water drainage and treatment projects. The procedures for selecting projects for investment in accommodation and tourism have also been completed. We are also recording progress in providing public rental apartments for young people – settlement under Pekrska hillbilly in Maribor, apartments in Prvačina near Nova Gorica and in Rogaška Slatina,” he further explained.
Funds from this fund are available until the end of 2026, so reforms and investments will have to be rushed if we want to draw on grants in the amount of 1.5 billion euros, reported Zdenka Cod. It is a demanding task, as pension reform, health care, long-term care, wages in the public sector, the green transition and many investments must be carried out, among other things.
Source: Rtvslo
