SloveniaDr. Monika Kirbiš Rojs, the Minister for Local Self-Government, Cohesion, and Regional Development in Slovenia's 16th government, discusses her initial impressions leading the ministry, key challenges in accessing European funds, and her vision for regional development in Slovenia. She highlights the decline in Slovenia's performance in utilizing cohesion funds, placing it around 20th among EU member states compared to fourth place four years ago. Kirbiš Rojs emphasizes the urgency of accelerating projects and preparing for the new financial perspective from 2028–2034. She notes that while 2026 remains manageable regarding European funds, 2027 lacks sufficient budgetary guarantees for seamless implementation of planned cohesion projects. The minister has not yet signed the handover document, aiming for the entire government to review the financial situation before proceeding.
Tendenz-Einschätzung (Mitte): The article presents a balanced overview of the minister's concerns and actions regarding European funding and regional development. It includes direct quotes from the minister and outlines both the challenges and proposed solutions without overtly favoring any particular political stance.
