As of the end of October, the Slovak Republic had drawn SKK 24.2 billion from the EU structural funds allocated for the 2004-2006 programming period. This accounts for 54.26 percent of the total amount allocated, representing SKK 44.7 billion. Slovakia can still draw over SKK 673.6 million for 2005 by the end of this year, and SKK 20.437 billion from allocated sums for 2004 to 2006 until the end of 2008, complying with valid terms for drawing EU funding. This information comes from data of the Ministry of Finance. From the point of view of the amounts drawn, the sector operational program Agriculture and Rural Development, falling under the competence of the Agriculture Ministry, was the most successful. It has already drawn 69.53 percent of its allocation for 2004-2006. This program was followed by the Interreg program, of which the Construction Ministry is in charge, focusing on border cooperation between the Slovak and Czech Republics (55.66 percent). Next was the Human Resources operational program controlled by the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Family (54.09 percent) and the Basic Infrastructure operational program supervised by the Construction and Regional Development Ministry (53.95 percent).
In contrast, the Finance Ministry thinks the unique programming document NUTS II BA Goal 3, controlled by the Ministries of Labor and Education, is a risky one. Only 25.04 percent of the commitment for 2005 has been drawn in this program so far. These funds, however, must be drawn by the end of this year at the latest. Weak drawing from EU funds was registered with the Interreg programs controlled by the Construction Ministry. These focus on the development of border cooperation between Slovakia and Hungary, Ukraine and Austria. Drawing in these programs has not yet exceeded 77 percent of the commitment for 2005. In the case of the program of cross-border cooperation between Slovakia and Austria, only 31.54 percent of the allocated sum has been drawn.
At the end of October, SKK 9.759 billion from the total allocation for the ISPA/CF project was transferred to the accounts of the paying authority. This represents 70.85 percent of all eligible costs that can be financed from the resources of the European Communities (SKK 13.755 billion). A total of SKK 9.686 billion was paid to contractors, which means actual drawing of 70.32 percent of total eligible costs financed from the sources of the European Communities. As much as SKK 3.833 billion was directed at projects co-financed from the Cohesion Fund, representing 24.19 percent of the total sum of eligible expenditures of SKK 15.847 billion. Paying units received SKK 2.473 billion, meaning actual drawing of 15.61 percent of total eligible costs funded from the sources of the European Communities.
(EUR 1 = SKK 33.291 on November 6)