Minister Dr Monika Kirbiš Rojs: Development should not stop at national borders
The Minister attended the meeting at the invitation of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) Future Paths Ljubljana-Novo mesto-Karlovac-Zagreb. This is the first registered EGTC headquartered in Slovenia that brings together Slovenian and Croatian partners. Its flagship project is the revitalisation and modernisation of the Ljubljana-Novo mesto-Karlovac-Zagreb railway corridor.
In her address, the Minister underlined that the significance of the planned rail link extends beyond transportation infrastructure. Better connectivity means faster and higher-quality mobility, improved access to jobs and services, new opportunities for the economy and tourism, and reduced dependence on road traffic. Therefore, the Ljubljana-Novo mesto-Karlovac-Zagreb corridor must be viewed as a development axis. “If we want Slovenia to develop in a polycentric manner, we should also create development opportunities outside the largest urban centres,” said the minister, emphasising the importance of linking transportation and sustainable mobility with the economy and the needs of residents.
The Minister also touched on European Cohesion Policy, saying that the two main tasks of the Ministry are the successful conclusion of the 2021-2027 programming period and the timely preparations for the 2028-2034 period. In this regard, she underlined that the focus must be on the specific development needs of the regions and on projects that are well-prepared and ready to be implemented. Since negotiations on the future European financial framework and rules are still ongoing, it is not yet possible to discuss the funding of individual projects; however, preparation of the projects can begin to ensure that they are developed in a timely and high-quality manner.
The Minister also spoke about regional development and the need for a stronger regional level. According to the Minister, the point of establishing provinces is not to introduce another administrative level but to ensure that answers to certain development-related questions are developed closer to people and to facilitate municipalities working closely in developing projects that extend beyond their borders.
During her visit to Grosuplje, the Minister and Secretary General Rok Zupančič also met with Dr Peter Verlič, Mayor of the Municipality of Grosuplje. They discussed funding options for the municipality’s key development projects, continued cooperation with the Ministry and the preparation of projects for the upcoming 2028-2034 programming period. The representatives of the municipality presented the projects focusing on the construction of a music school with a cultural centre, the continued expansion of the sewer system and other environmental infrastructure, and the development of municipal infrastructure in industrial zones.
At the end of the visit and at the Mayor’s invitation, the Minister also signed the Grosuplje Municipality guestbook, thus marking her visit to the Municipality.
“We will not measure the success of this cooperation by the number of meetings or documents, but by the results; namely, whether people will be able to access jobs and services more quickly, whether the rail connection will improve, and whether the area will become more attractive for new investments,” the Minister concluded.