THE EUROPEAN Union's new member states are refusing to give up hope of receiving EU funding for repairs to aging apartment complexes built during the pre-1989 socialist era.
But even if Brussels did agree to support the reconstruction of "paneláky", as the tenements are known in Slovakia, Bratislava and its 150,000 residents who living in such apartments wouldn't qualify for assistance. According to the EU, inhabitants of the Slovak capital are too wealthy to qualify.
Bratislava is at 99% of the EU average in terms of GDP per capita, while Slovakia's eastern regions are below 50%.
"So far, the issue remains open. However, we already know that due to the high GDP per capita ratio, any possible success [in securing EU funding] will not affect Bratislava region," said the Minister of Construction and Regional Development, László Gyurkovský, for the Hospodárske noviny daily.
Compiled by Magdalena MacLeod from press reports
TheSlovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the informationpresented in its Flash News postings.
