Slovakia's Minister of Construction and Regional Development Marián Janušek insists that the newly introduced online system of registering projects for drawing on Euro funds is working well.
The ministry will launch the second registration round for projects on March 17 through which municipalities apply for money from European Union structural funds for school infrastructure.
Janušek made the comments in response to criticism from opposition PM Stanislav Janiš, who accused the ministry on March 12 of discriminating against schools.
Janiš said that only public schools with more than 200 pupils could submit applications for funding of their projects. Janušek responded that the MP is unfamiliar with the issue.
The minister also thinks that Euro-funds create fertile soil for the opposition, which likes to use the topic to criticise the governing coalition. The ministry consulted on the registration with the European Commission. Applicants will be able to register their projects through the internet from March 17.
The first round, which was showered with criticism from municipalities, only the projects of the quickest applicants were registered. The second round will bring no limitations, the minister explained.
The applicants will be able to choose dates online for consultations with the ministry about their projects. The minister promised municipalities applying for EU funds will get an answer within 100 days. In the past, they had to wait for up to a year.
The Slovak Nation party wants that the Ministry of Construction and Development led by its nominee Marián Janušek, to be the exclusive coordinator for EU funds, but parliament has yet to take up the proposal.
SMER-SD Deputy PM Dušan Čaplovič, who is also responsible for Euro-funds, does not like the idea. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
