Ljubljana - The drafting of the cohesion policy implementation programme for 2021-2027 is in the final stages and Cohesion Policy Minister Aleksander Jevšek believes it will be approved by both of the country's cohesive regions in early October.

Talking to the STA, Jevšek said that a number of players had contributed to the creation of the implementation programme, including government ministries and offices, local communities and regions, as well as economic and social partners, among others.

"They all worked hard... We held many talks and did a lot of coordination, so I hope everything will run smoothly," Jevšek told the STA ahead of a visit by European Commissioner Elisa Ferreira on Wednesday and Thursday.

The minister said that the partner agreement and the implementation programme have been the top priority of his department ever since the new government took over on 1 June.

"When I took over at the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, both documents ... were far from finished, harmonisation had not even started. Since the European Commission's deadline expires at the end of the year, it was clear to me that there wasn't much time."

The department immediately started dialogue with all stakeholders and launched harmonisation of both documents. While the partner agreement has already been approved, Jevšek believes the implementation programme will be approved before the end of the year as well.

He expects the development councils of Slovenia's both cohesive regions to approve the programme in early October, after which the document is to be adopted by the government, followed by a formal approval from the European Commission.

One of the main challenges in drafting the programme was finding ways to allow a higher share of co-funding for underdeveloped parts of the western, more developed, cohesive region.

Under EU rules, projects in underdeveloped regions are 80%-funded by EU funds, while projects in more developed regions are 40%-funded by EU funds. While Slovenia's eastern cohesive region is underdeveloped, the western region is more developed.

The stakeholders reached an agreement under which the state will match the EU cohesion funds in projects in the western cohesive region involving public sector beneficiaries. "This means that municipalities, for example, will have to provide only 20% of the funds."

As documents are being prepared for the new financial perspective, stakeholders are rushing to draw the funds from the old perspective. By the end of August, a total of 73% of available EU funds has been drawn.

The entire government is striving to see all projects concluded in time, so that all the funds from the 2014-2020 perspective can be drawn. "There is still some time," said Jevšek, as the deadline is the end of the year.

The rising costs and supply chain problems are having an adverse effect on project implementation. "This is not the case only in Slovenia but in all member states, especially along the eastern border of the EU, where Ukraine neighbours feel the effects of the war very strongly.

"We are aware of risks and challenges and are following the implementation of projects to help bring them to completion."

Jevšek, who has also served as mayor, advocated for simple and uniform fund drawing procedures before he was appointed minister. He said in the interview that some simplifications had already been incorporated in the system.

Touching on Slovenia's plan to establish provinces, Jevšek said this was a protracted process which demanded a broad discussion involving all stakeholders. "Considering the situation in Slovenia and the EU, other things have taken priority."

"I believe establishing provinces is sensible, but I can't say it will be possible in this term." He is certain, however, that the drawing of funds would be more successful if provinces had legal and administrative powers, as well as human resources and funds.

But until they are established, the minister advises municipalities to connect with others for projects of national and regional importance.