Cohesion funds help build resilience of local communities, ensuring a safer future
In the morning, Minister Jevšek stopped in Ilirska Bistrica to visit the Ilirska Bistrica waterworks together with Mayor Dr Gregor Kovačič. The structure is the key element of the Bistrica-Rodik water project which addresses the pressing issue of water supply in the municipalities of Bistrica, Divača and Hrpelje-Kozina. This water project is the largest regional project from the previous, 2014-2020 period; it cost over €23 million and received €12 million from the European Union and the Republic of Slovenia. New infrastructure made it possible to connect 10,602 additional people to the system which ensures a safe and reliable water supply.
During the visit, Minister Jevšek underscored the importance of infrastructure investments: “The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development gives special attention to the projects that directly improve the quality of life. This project ensures reliable supply of safe and quality drinking water. I am glad that cohesion funds helped over 10,000 people get access to quality drinking water. Such projects strengthen climate resilience of local communities and ensure long-term reliable and safe water supply.”
In the afternoon, Minister Jevšek joined Prime Minister Dr Golob and Minister Arčon in Postojna for a visit to the Business Incubator Perspektiva. The network incubator brings together six municipalities and acts as an important hub promoting the development of entrepreneurship in the region. A €5.4 million project set to receive €4.4 million in co-financing will be implemented to extend the incubator in 2026 and 2027 and provide additional office space in Postojna and Pivka.
The ministers ended the visit with a panel in which Minister Jevšek highlighted the key solutions of the amended Promotion of Balanced Regional Development Act that is expected to be adopted in the coming months. The Minister emphasized that the act introduces a new development model that builds on innovation-driven growth. The model is urgently needed to help regions tackle development disparities, as all regions, except for Osrednjeslovenska, fall behind the national development average. The amendment ushers in strategic planning that builds on the incoming national regional development strategy by 2050 and sets out legal basis for a Brussels-based development regions office with the aim to help improve the absorption of centralized EU funds. The Minister also underlined the latest investments in the region. As part of the agreement on the development of the region, 10 projects worth a total of €23.7 million have been approved in the Primorsko-Notranjska region, with co-financing amounting to €17.8 million.