In late June the European Commission adopted a « partnership agreement with Slovakia on the mobilization of the Structural and EU investment Funds for growth and employment for the period 2014-2020.

The “partnership agreement” sets out the strategy to be implemented for the use of Structural Funds and European investment. Within this document, each Member State sets priorities and investment objectives for the next seven years to support the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy, namely sustainable, inclusive, and smart growth.

The European Structural and Investment Funds consist of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the Cohesion Fund, the European Fund for Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EFF) and the European Fund agricultural Fund for Rural development (EAFRD).

This agreement will provide the country 14 billion euros in total under the cohesion policy (including the first three funds) for the period 2014-2020. Slovakia will also receive a grant of € 1.5 billion for rural development and a budget of 15.8 million euros for the shipping industry and fishing.

Funds for cohesion policy will be distributed as follows:
– $ 9.2 billion for the least developed regions (whole country except Bratislava)
– 328.7 million for the more developed regions (Bratislava)
– 4.2 billion under the Cohesion Fund
– 223.4 million under the European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg)
– 72.2 million under the Youth Employment Initiative

Concerning the ESF, Slovakia will receive € 2.2 billion to promote employment and social inclusion.

The EU cohesion policy in Slovakia accounts for its priorities:

– Promote research and innovation, as well as the use of ICTs

– Strengthening the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, including fishing and aquaculture

– Promoting sustainable transport systems and fight against congestion in key infrastructure

– Support the creation of sustainable employment and labor mobility

– Investing in education and learning throughout life

– Promoting social inclusion, fight against poverty and against all forms of discrimination
 
All Member States have now presented their partnership agreements projects , however the consultation process is not finished yet for twelve of them.