Slovakia EN Results of the negotiations of Cohesion Policy strategies and programmes 2007–13

programmes co– nanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), two of which are also co– nanced by the Cohesion Fund (CF); and two programmes by the European Social Fund (ESF). In addi- tion, is taking part in four cross– border co–operation programmes, two transnational co–operation programmes and in interregional co–operation with all Member States1.

COHESION POLICY TODAY’S PROBLEMS AND FUTURE CHALLENGES Mitigating regional disparities The principle of regional balance was a key issue in the negotiations. Indicative allocations at the regional level are thus embedded in programming documents to ensure that regions, in particular those cov- ered by the Convergence Objective, will

© EuroGeographics Association for the administrative boundaries receive nancial support re ecting their economic and social needs. Accordingly, underdeveloped regions will receive higher nancial support from the Funds. Competitiveness and Convergence Regions Employment Regions In order to maximise the impact of the limited funding, the agreed approach is that some spending areas, such as regional infrastructure, health infrastructure, R&D, universities, and support (mainly through INTRODUCTION Slovakia is to signi cantly increase the com- innovation) for the competitiveness of en- The negotiation dialogue between the petitiveness and performance of regions, terprises and services, will be concentrated and Slovakian au- the Slovak economy and employment by in ‘growth ’. 2013, while respecting the principles of thorities helped identify key strategic pri- Cohesion Policy delivering sustainable development. The EU funding orities to be supported through Cohesion the Agenda Policy over the 2007–13 programming pe- will be invested in three strategic priori- Funds will help implement the priorities riod, leading to improved links between ties: 1) Infrastructure and regional acces- of the Slovak National Reform Programme analysis, strategy and priorities. Horizontal sibility; 2) Innovation, information society aspects, such as marginalised Roma com- and knowledge economy; and 3) Human resources and education. 1 The gures mentioned in the following chapters refer to munity issues, equal opportunities and planned interventions in the programmes under the Convergence and, where applicable, the Regional Competitiveness and sustainable development are also ad- The Slovak ’s strategic planning for Employment Objectives only. It is not possible to identify the dressed more closely in the strategy and the 2007–13 period will be implemented exact contribution of each Member State to a given theme in programmes under the European Territorial Co-operation programme. The overall objective for through 11 Operational Programmes: nine Objective.

Cohesion Policy FINANCIAL ALLOCATION PER OBJECTIVE AND FUND

Community National Public National Private Objective Fund TOTAL in € amount in € amount in € amount in € CF 3 898 738 563 688 012 688 0 4 586 751 251 Convergence*1 ERDF 5 548 862 858 1 052 102 150 0 6 600 965 008 ESF 1 464 000 000 258 352 945 0 1 722 352 945 Total Convergence 10 911 601 421 Regional Competitiveness and ERDF 413 415 373 72 955 656 0 486 371 029 Employment (RCE) ESF 35 603 156 6 282 911 0 41 886 067 Total RCE 449 018 529 European Territorial Co-operation ERDF 227 284 545 0 227 284 545 Total CF 3 898 738 563 Total ERDF 6 189 562 776 Total ESF 1 499 603 156 TOTAL 11 587 904 495 2 077 706 350 0 13 665 610 845

*1 The Convergence Objective concerns regions characterised by low levels of GDP and employment, where GDP per head is less than 75% of the EU average as it stood between 2000 and 2002. It applies to 100 regions representing approximately 35% of the EU-27 population and aims to promote conditions conducive to growth and ones which lead to real-time convergence in the least-developed Member States and regions. The Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective is applicable to the rest of the EU, or to 168 regions, representing almost 65% of the EU-27 population. It aims to enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of regions, as well as boost their employment levels.

(NRP). For example, key weaknesses identi- The development of entrepreneurship, A major part of the ESF allocation (almost ed in the NRP, in respect of low invest- especially among SMEs, is closely linked €547 million) will be invested in human ments in ICT infrastructure and services to innovation as indicated in the National capital through the two ESF Operational and in R&D, are to receive a substantially Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF). Programmes (OP) – OP Education and OP higher contribution from the Funds com- Around €438 million (nearly 4% of the Employment and Social Inclusion. The em- pared to the previous programming pe- Community contribution) have been allo- ployability of jobseekers and people enter- riod. In nancial terms, it is expected that cated speci cally for projects supporting ing the labour market will be supported 58% of the total Community contribution the competitiveness and innovation of en- through actions targeted at improving ac- will be directly invested in priorities of the terprises. Some 820 co-operation projects tive labour market policy measures, mod- growth and jobs agenda. between enterprises and research institu- ernising public employment services, facili- tions are expected to be supported dur- tating labour mobility, improving education Responding to globalisation ing the programming period. Slovakia will quality and decreasing skill mismatch by and structural change also make use of new innovative nancing providing new skills for new jobs via a mod- Almost one third of total Community re- mechanisms such as the JEREMIE nancial ern education and training system. All these sources (some €3.5 billion) will be invested engineering instrument. In four Operational activities will take into account the speci c by Slovakia to improve transport infrastruc- Programmes, JEREMIE will be supported to needs of disadvantaged population groups, ture and thus increase the accessibility of the tune of €156 million or thereabouts. including the Roma minority. its territory to core markets. There will also A signi cant increase in allocations was be a particular focus on developing TEN-T Demographic change, and also achieved for ICT infrastructure and networks (around €2.2 billion). Considerable more inclusive labour markets, services. In fact, Slovakia has the highest al- time savings are expected as a result of the societies and economies location in relative terms compared with the transport of €350 million or Demographic developments were taken other Member States, with ICT accounting so per year in railroads and about €72 mil- into account when preparing an NSRF strat- for 10% of the total allocation for Slovakia lion per year in roads. Reconstruction of egy which addresses the implications of (roughly €1.2 billion). The investments will regional and local roads will improve acces- these changes in Slovak society. Allocation for example focus on developing electron- sibility to the transport corridors for to the priority axis focusing on social in- ic services, content and infrastructure for all citizens. clusion represents almost one quarter of public administration. It is expected that the total ESF allocation for the speci c OP Recognising the importance of investing as a result of the investments an additional Employment and Social Inclusion. The re- in the knowledge economy, Slovakia has 900 000 inhabitants will have access to a lated activities are focused on: using social signi cantly increased (more than 100 times) modern broadband network. the allocation to Research, Development care services to improve the social inclusion Over €173 million have been allocated to ac- and Innovation (RD&I) for the period of people threatened by social exclusion; tions aimed at increasing the adaptability 2007–13. The Funds will invest some €2.6 bil- strengthening equal opportunities when of workers and enterprises. ESF assistance lion (23% of the total allocation) in this . it comes to accessing the labour market; will focus on: developing speci c services As a result of the negotiation dialogue, the and supporting the education of people for employment, training and support in role of applied research in R&D oriented with special educational needs. The NSRF connection with the restructuring of sec- interventions has been increased, thematic is allocating around €200 million to the tors and rms; developing systems for an- concentrations have been clearly described NSRF Marginalised Roma Communities ticipating economic changes and future and links to the national R&D strategy have horizontal priority. requirements in terms of jobs and skills; and been improved, thus achieving a better con- providing support for self-employment and centration of interventions. business start-ups.

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File Location : D:\brieuc.h\Version Cue\DG REGIO NSFR COUNTRY SHEETS\3. STUDIO\6. Layouts\DG REGIO COUNTRY SHEETS SK.indd Responding to the challenges had only a limited role in managing the urban development has been introduced of sustainable development, Funds. However, for the 2007–13 program- for the period 2007–13 and will be imple- change and energy ming period, regions will be responsible mented through the regional programme Protection of the environment, including for implementing certain activities in the and programme. Integrated ur- protection and rational use of water re- regional programme and Bratislava pro- ban projects account for some €202 mil- sources, as well as  ood protection, waste gramme, as a result of the negotiation ef- lion, while possible use of the JESSICA management, regeneration of nature and forts of the European Commission. nancial engineering instrument has also landscapes, risk prevention and support for Preparation of the programming docu- been indicated. Actions for sustainable ur- renewable energies, feature among the key ments involved a variety of partners ban development will cover issues such as strategic priorities of Slovakia. The negotia- at national as well as regional and local the revitalisation of public spaces, housing tion dialogue helped to de ne long-term level through working groups. During and infrastructure (schools, culture, social objectives to be achieved through funding the programme’s implementation, moni- services, rescue services, urban trans- and also helped to clarify certain technical toring committees will be the principal ). The negotiation process has led to issues, such as how to calculate the nan- forum for involvement and consultation improvements as regards the concentra- cial costs of implementing EU environmen- of partners. tion of resources, the focus on a limited tal legislation (totalling around €7.2 billion). number of cities/neighbourhoods, and the As a result of the negotiations, the water Building institutional capacities speci cation of selection criteria in each sector, as the heaviest sector E cient and sound management of the programme. given the environmental acquis require- Cohesion Policy programmes requires Within the EQUAL Community Initiative ments, will be supported with a €1.035 su cient capacity among public admin- (2004–06), the Slovak Republic focused its billion allocation. The projects under OP istrations at national as well as regional support on six thematic elds, with Environment will increase the number of and local level, given the new role of the attention paid to developing active labour people connected to public sewers to 4.4 regions in implementing the Funds. market policy measures, providing training million, the percentage of population con- The actions for reinforcing administrative for employees and introducing measures nected to waste water treatment to e ciency in the Slovak Republic are fo- targeted at socially excluded groups. In 81% and the proportion of the population cused on strengthening the institutional terms of the individual factors in uencing supplied with drinking water from public capacity of the public administration and employment growth in Slovakia, the tools water supply networks to 91%. Investments public sector. These actions are consist- supported under the active labour market in the environment in general, account for ent with the Slovak Republic’s modernisa- policy constituted a decisive element in some €3.8 billion (34% of the Community tion programme for public administration decreasing and keeping contribution), while the allocation for miti- and public services and coherent with the people in the labour market. The experi- gating climate change is of the order of strategic choices identi ed in the NSRF. ences gained through EQUAL were proper- €1.7 billion (15% of the Community contri- The actions will be undertaken under ly mainstreamed into the ESF Operational bution). The investments targeting energy the Employment and Social Inclusion Programmes for 2007–13, e.g. support for e ciency and renewable energies are Operational Programme. vulnerable groups in the areas of educa- estimated at some €169 million. tion and entering the labour market, sup- Through the actions planned under the port for social economy organisations, and Special emphasis is placed on energy Information Society OP, the national au- support for NGOs and social partners. production and energy e ciency, with thorities aim to improve public adminis- added coordination across a number of tration e ectiveness in 20 key areas. This programmes in respect of these aspects will be achieved by designing and imple- of the energy sector in Slovakia. In terms menting e-government applications that of energy e ciency, information gathered enable users across the entire country to during the programming period will dem- access government more easily and more onstrate inter alia the extent to which en- e ectively. As well as developing national ergy has been saved, the increased use of government applications, the OP will pro- thermal insulation, and the increased use vide resources for developing electronic of equipment that uses renewable energy government services at municipal level, sources. and will work to ensure that all of these actions are accessible and interoperable. COHESION POLICY REINFORCES In addition, Slovakia will use technical as- GOOD GOVERNANCE, sistance as provided for under JASPERS to OWNERSHIP AND help when preparing project applications INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES for potential nancing from the Funds. Reinforcing multi-level Mainstreaming successful governance and partnership policies, enhancing knowledge Since 2002, Slovakia has been in the proc- and spreading good practices ess of transferring responsibilities from Although Slovakia did not bene t from the central government to regions. In the URBAN initiative in the 2004–06 program- previous programming round, regions ming period, the concept of integrated

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File Location : D:\brieuc.h\Version Cue\DG REGIO NSFR COUNTRY SHEETS\3. STUDIO\6. Layouts\DG REGIO COUNTRY SHEETS SK.indd COHESION POLICY CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY PRIORITIES 2007 13*2, ALLOCATIONS IN MILLIONS OF Responding to globalisation Responding to the challenges of and structural change climate change

3467 2613 1164 438 3835 173 1746 547 169

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 0 800 1600 2400 3200 4000

Accessibility Environment RD&I Climate change Knowledge and service based economy Energy e ciency and renewable energies Entrepreneurship and business support (SMEs) Adaptability of companies and workers

Demographic change, more inclusive labour Responding to governance, ownership markets, societies & economies & institutional capacity

405 17 162 48

0 100 200 300 400 500 0 10 20 30 40 50

Increasing workers' participation Strengthen capacity of public sector Migration Addressing poverty and social exclusion

*2 The sum of the individual sections is higher than the total funds available under Cohesion Policy for Slovakia (€11 587 904 495) due to the relevance of various categories to di erent thematic priorities, e.g. RD&I contains large human capital investments which are also listed separately.

Further information about Cohesion Policy in Slovakia can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas2007/slovakia/index_en.htm Consult the Inforegio website for an overview of EU Regional Policy: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/ Consult the website of DG Employment, Social A airs and Equal Opportunities for further information: http://ec.europa.eu/social/