European Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Huebner has urged Slovenian officials to use every euro available from the EU's funds. After inspecting several EU-funded projects durign a working visit on Wednesday, Hubner said Slovenia has been successful in phasing various types of EU funding.
Speaking to the press in Slovenska Bistrica, Hubner said she always emphasises that the main task in the phasing of EU funds is is to improve the absorption capabilities and cut red tape.
It is necessary to simplify the implementation, but this is an issue that the whole of EU needs to deal with, she said after talks with Minister for Local Government and Regional Policy Ivan Zagar.
According to Zagar, Slovenian officials presented Hubner the state of affairs as it actually is. He noted that in order to improve the phasing capability, the government has already taken certain measures.
"We are already drafting new legislation on public procurement. On the one hand we want to ensure greater transparency, and on the other cut red tape that has so far made it virtually impossible to carry out certain projects," Zagar said. The minister believes the overall picture will be much better in a year's time.
Hubner also touched on the ongoing budget talks in the EU, and stressed it was crucial for regional policy that the Union's 2007-2013 budget be adopted by the end of June. According to her, an agreement must be reached as soon as possible to give Europe more development, new jobs and greater competitiveness.
"We cannot have more Europe for less money and I hope that the Council's decision will be as close to the (European) Commission's proposal as possible," according to her.
Hubner believes cohesion policy will focus on poorer regions in the future. Although Slovenia is among the best developed newcomers, it is still behind the old members, so she hopes that the EU will contribute to Slovenia's catching up.
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