he current government has considerably improved drawing on finances from the European Social Fund, said Deputy Prime Minister Dušan Čaplovič. He told a news conference on December 2, according to the SITA newswire, that when the current government took office in July 2006, drawing from the European Social Fund was around 15-20 percent. However, the current figure is more than 90 percent. He attributes this favourable development to the stabilised situation in ministries and gradual formation of teams involved in drawing of EU funds.
Drawing of EU funds in the Sector Operational Program Human Resources represented 5 percent of the allocation, €1.67 million (Sk80.44 million) in late June 2006, Education Minister Ján Mikolaj said. At the end of this October, 54 percent of the allocation was drawn, while in 2008 itself EU funds were drawn at 30 percent. In late June 2006, 376 contracts were concluded at Sk1.55 billion (€51.45 million), while currently the Education Ministry has concluded 566 contracts at Sk2.61 billion (€86.64 million), added the education minister. Within the United Program Document Bratislava Ciel 3 allocation was drawn at a mere 2.63 percent in late June 2006. To date it is at 70.16 percent.
Labour Minister Viera Tomanová said that the public administration and regional governments were best prepared for drawing from Eurofunds. 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.
2. Dec 2008 at 19:00
