The delegation of the Slovak government chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction Plan and European Funds, Lívia Vašáková, visited Warsaw on Thursday, with participants including Peter Balík, the Minister of Investment, Regional Development and Information Technology of the Slovak Republic, Barbora Lukáčova, the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development, and experts from the Slovak government.

Poland and Slovakia are important beneficiaries of cohesion policy funds, which provide a strong development stimulus for our countries' economies. We therefore want our voice to be strongly heard in the current European debate on the shape of the EU cohesion policy after 2027

- said Grzegorz Puda, the Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy after signing the agreement.

Minister Puda stressed that current challenges such as the energy transition and the war in Ukraine provide serious experience for the social, economic and territorial cohesion of EU countries and regions.

We need new creative solutions to strengthen the accessibility, flexibility and effectiveness of investing the cohesion policy funds. We will work together with Slovakia to develop positions and proposals in this area, which we will present jointly at the EU forum

- emphasised the Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy.

Polish-Slovak cross-border cooperation

The Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy will continue its expert cooperation with the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Information Technology of Slovakia. Above all, it is about building on very good experience of cross-border cooperation programmes.

Last year we jointly launched the new edition of the INTERREG Poland - Slovakia programme. INTERREG has proved to be an extremely valuable tool for promoting cooperation and building relations between neighbours

- said the Head of the MDFRP.

Polish-Slovak debate on the cohesion policy

Poland is a leader in the use of the Cohesion Policy funds and wants to share its experience in this area with its Slovak partners. 

This includes the simplification of the implementation of the EU funds, Integrated Territorial Investments or the activities of the Centre for EU Transport Projects.

The Slovak ministers held a study visit to the Western Railway Station reconstruction project in Warsaw, which is one of the largest infrastructure projects currently in progress in the capital city. The guests also learned about the details of Polish investment solutions in the health sector. 

Polish-Slovak relations

In recent years, Polish-Slovak senior level meetings (presidents/prime ministers/ministers) in both bilateral and multilateral formats have taken place regularly.

We also welcome very good bilateral relations we have with Slovakia, regular meetings and consultations, bilateral and multilateral, also at the senior level

- said Minister Grzegorz Puda about the very good relations in the political area with Slovakia.

The Minister emphasised that Poland is preparing for its Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2025. According to G. Puda, it will be possible to use the effects and achievements of Polish-Slovak cooperation effectively during the Polish Presidency of the EU Council.