Slovakia has thus far drawn 25 percent of its EU funds

AS OF TODAY, Slovakia has drawn a quarter of the €1.7 billion (Sk37.5 billion) in EU funds earmarked for the country for the 2004-2006 period.

Contracts have been concluded or works are already being realized for projects worth 90 percent of the total sum. The money can be drawn until 2008.

According to Ján Rudorf from the Construction Ministry, the drawing on the EU money is being complicated by the clumsiness of the process and by corruption, Pravda wrote.