Slovenia's GDP per capita stood at 76% of the EU average in 2003, putting the country above the 75% threshold for receiving EU funds under Objective 1, according to Eurostat data published on Thursday.
The data is based on Slovenia's status as one cohesion region, which is why Slovenia made a request late last year to be divided into two regions in order to remain entitled to Objective 1 funding in the 2007-2013 EU budget period.
The EU's preliminary assessment of the request was favourable, with European Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Huebner saying in late March that Eurostat gave a positive preliminary opinion, saying that the request is in line with regulations".
Huebner moreover said that Slovenia's request has been checked and is good, adding that the proposal could officially enter into force in 2008.
Eurostat data also shows that in 2003 GDP per capita expressed in terms of purchasing power parity in the 254 NUTS 2 regions across the EU ranged from 33 percent of the EU 25 average in the region of Lubelskie, in Poland, to 278 percent of the average in Inner London.
According to Eurostat data for 2003, 37 regions exceeded 125% of the bloc's average development level, with Prague being the only region located in one of the new member states.
Meanwhile, of the 60 regions that fall below the 75% threshold, 16 can be found in Poland, seven in the Czech Republic and six in Hungary.
Slovenia first surpassed the 75% threshold in 2002, when the country's GDP per capita stood at 75.3% of the EU average.
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