An illustrative picture (source: TASR/AP)
The Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) and several universities have claimed Slovakia is failing to fulfil its obligations under international treaties, such as its obligations towards the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).
Slovakia has been a CERN member since 1993. The country pays a membership fee of almost €5.5 million every year. Its maturity expired this summer, but the Education Ministry paid only half of it so far, the Denník N daily reported.
The ministry said it tries to pay the sums, but "the costs are rising faster than the ministry’s resources [assigned] for this purpose". Hence, the Education Ministry has repeatedly asked the Finance Ministry for an increase in funding.
"It is essential these commitments be settled in the coming days so that the country does not have to face a halt to ongoing projects and an internationally negative response," the SAV and universities wrote in their statement, as quoted by TASR.
