THE CABINET on December 13 approved the final draft version of the National Strategic Reference Framework for the EU's 2007-2013 budget period, outlining what the country intends to do with the EU funds it is eligible for.
Slovakia should receive around €11.4 billion from the EU's structural funds and the Cohesion Fund during the next six years, which comes to around Sk403.8 billion.
With the aid of EU funds, Slovakia is expected to increase the competitiveness and economic performance of its regions, as well as to increase employment. The focus will be on infrastructure, human resources, and building a knowledge-based economy.
The funds should be distributed among 11 operating programs: the Regions, Environment, Transport, the Informatization of Society, Science and Research, Development and Innovations, Employment and Social Inclusiveness, Education, Technical Assistance, Competitiveness and Economic Growth, Healthcare, and the Bratislava region programs.
Most of the sum should be allocated to transport projects, which are expected to receive up to €3.2 billion, the SITA news wire wrote.
