On Friday, the European Commission officially approved the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRR) of the Slovak Republic for the 2007-2013 programming period. In this period Slovakia will be able to draw more than SKK 400 billion from the European Union for 11 operational programs, said Minister of Construction and Regional Development Marian Janusek. He added that the adoption of the document also opens the door to approval of individual programs. The first four---Transport, Information Society, Regional Operational Program and Technical Assistance---are already ready for approval, which is expected in September. A further seven programs should be endorsed by the end of this year. In the seven-year period Slovakia can acquire EUR 11.587 billion from EU sources: EUR 7.689 billion from structural funds and EUR 3.898 billion from the Cohesion Fund.
These funds will be topped off by national public sources based on set obligatory co-financing by the Slovak Republic and private funds as well. It is estimated that the use of these funds in the first full programming period of 2007-2013, together with the completion of drawing on EU funds from the shortened period 2004-2006, could contribute about 2 percent to Slovakia's economic growth.
"Our Cabinet has yet to approve the NSRR, but that is already a formality at this point," said Mr. Janusek. He underscored that EC approval of the document on Friday is already ultimate. The minister expects that the first challenges in drawing funds from the four prepared operational programs, waiting for formal approval in September, could arise in late September and early October.
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