Minister visits public research institute Rudolfovo as part of government visit to southeastern Slovenia

16. 9. 2025

Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development

Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development Dr Aleksander Jevšek paid a visit to the public research institute Rudolfovo as part of the government visit to the region South-East Slovenia where he learned more about good practices in research-industry collaboration. After the visit, the Minister gave statement to the media, outlining amendments to Slovenia's Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027 the Government had earlier approved.

Minister dr. Aleksander Jevšek in ministrica Tanja Fajon v Javnem raziskovalnem zavodu Rudolfovo — Minister Dr Aleksander Jevšek and Minister Tanja Fajon at the public research institute Rudolfovo | Author Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development

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''We bring good news to your region. We are going to found a new public university that will bring faculties in the region together under one umbrella to consolidate their work. Also, we approved baselines for amendment to Slovenia's Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027 at today's government session. The amendment comes as a response to the reformed cohesion policy regulations that allow the EU member states to align cohesion policy investments with the new strategic priorities of the European Union. Your region, for example, could benefit from additional funding that will be provided for high-tech research and the economy, and for affordable housing,'' said Minister Jevšek.

To mobilise funding to address new challenges amid geopolitical instability, the reformed legislation, expected to be published by the end of September, offers EU member states and regions the opportunity to channel funds into new objectives. With the incoming change of Slovenia’s EU Cohesion Policy Programme, Slovenia is adjusting its programme to accommodate new and emerging development and strategic priorities of the European Union as well as its own needs. The main objective is to make the use of available cohesion policy funding more effective and to put more focus on areas demonstrating highest development potential.

New priority areas under the reformed cohesion legislation include competitiveness, decarbonisation and energy security, defence and security, affordable housing, and water resilience and access to water. The changes bring greater financial and administrative flexibility.

To support the achievement of Slovenia’s objectives in new and enlarged areas, the country is planning to reallocate the funds from existing cohesion policy measures to new ones under several specific objectives, the reallocation amounting to a total of 241 million euros.