The projects are important for regional and local development as well as the development of Slovenia as a whole, the minister said, noting that the projects now needed to be confirmed and implemented.

He believes regional projects must be promoted, because Slovenia would not receive EU funds forever. "We need to consider domestic sources of funding," he said.

"Regional policy in Slovenia has potential but we need to set a good foundation for regional development," he said, adding that the Economy Ministry had allocated EUR 136m for urban projects as well.

Marko Bandelli, the minister of development and European cohesion policy, said that if Slovenia wanted to progress the differences in development between the western and eastern parts of the country must be minimised.

He too said that EU funds alone would not suffice in the future and that "we must look for other sources."

The economy and agriculture ministries allocated EUR 97m for a local development programme in 2014-2020, he noted.

The state also encourages sustainability of urban areas and wants to help cities realise their potential and improve the quality of living in the cities, Bandelli said. EUR 138m in EU cohesion funds are available for this, he added.

The minister sees the 2021-2027 cohesion policy as bringing many challenges. There are ideas that the system should be overhauled to have operative programmes and the managing bodies separated, "which is legitimate but would not necessarily lead to a balanced development of Slovenia as a whole," he said.