At today’s government session, Minister Dr Aleksander Jevšek reported about the progress of the ongoing activities concerning the preparation of the application for the EU Solidarity Fund and about other activities for a fast and efficient post-flood recovery.
The relevant activities were undertaken immediately after the disaster. The Slovenian Government tasked the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development with preparing the application. The European Commission must receive the application at the latest by 27 October 2023.
An inter-governmental task force responsible for coordinating the preparation of the application and implementation of the EU Solidarity Fund was established on 8 August 2023 via a government decision. The task force brings together state secretaries and relevant experts, who held the first meeting already on 9 August 2023.
Minister Jevšek and European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira have agreed to work together on the application preparation process. The representatives from the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development have already met with the representatives of the European Commission, i.e. DG REGIO, to discuss in detail the steps and procedures needed for the preparation of the application. Additionally, the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development established contact with the relevant Croatian departments that coordinated the preparation of the application for the EU Solidarity Fund and the implementation of the recovery and reconstruction measures supported by the EU Solidarity Fund following the devastating earthquakes in Zagreb and Petrinja.
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development have agreed with the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) that the two institutions will provide Slovenia with guidance and technical expertise in assessing the damage caused by the flash floods earlier this month and preparing the application for assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund.
