Slovakia’s Culture Ministry will allocate €144 million to preserve the nation's cultural heritage in the period from 2011 to 2014, representing the highest amount of money in the ministry's history, Culture Minister Daniel Krajcer announced at a press conference on Monday, April 4, the TASR newswire reported.
"This amount is the minimum, [that will be provided]. We're deeply convinced that it'll actually be a bit more," said Krajcer.
The highest share will come from the EU’s Regional Operational Programme (ROP), with a contribution of around €100 million expected. Further financing will be redirected from the ministry budget originally designated for tourism. Krajcer announced that he made this arrangement with Transport, Construction and Regional Development Minister Ján Figeľ.
In addition, €11.5 million will be provided by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. Krajcer noted that neither owners nor custodians of sacred monuments are able to draw money from European structural funds and that the ministry intends to use the Norwegian funds for this purpose.
"We also want to engage the unemployed in reconstruction of castle ruins," said Krajcer, as quoted by TASR, adding that reconstruction work at Sarissky Hrad (Prešov region) and Uhrovec (Trenčín region) castles should commence this year.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
5. Apr 2011 at 10:00
