A modernised cohesion policy: More funds for security, strategic technologies, and affordable housing

SLOVENIA, November 27 - The meeting was held at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of University of Maribor and aimed to explore ways to modernise cohesion policy to adapt to new and emerging challenges. With the second amendment to its Programme, Slovenia responds to changing geopolitical and economic landscapes and follows the objectives of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). The changed Programme enables the country to better spend the available resources and speed up absorption in 2026, by focusing in particular on areas with multiplicative effects.

1. Competitiveness and technological sovereignty (53.5 million euros)

Substantial funding has been earmarked for fostering advanced technologies. As part of this strand, 30 million euros has been ring-fenced for a call for proposals for development and deployment of strategic technologies, and a further 23.5 million euros will go for the upgrade of the supercomputer infrastructure (HPC 2).

2. Dual-use infrastructure and security (81.4 million euros)

Shifting security landscape dictates the need for investments in dual-use infrastructure (used both for civilian and defence purposes). The bulk, i.e. 46 million euros has been earmarked for strengthening the resilience of health systems, more specifically, for investments in regional hospitals.

3. Energy security and green transition (57.7 million euros)

Investments will be made in key energy projects, including cross-border connections, modernisation of transmission and distribution networks, energy storage systems, and the roll-out of charging infrastructure.

4. Affordable housing (41.9 million euros)

Housing crisis will be addressed through dedicated funding used to co-finance the construction of affordable public rental dwellings and assisted living facilities.  

Fresh impetus for cohesion region Vzhodna Slovenija and two coal regions

The amended Programme now includes the operation of strategic importance Renovation of the Rotovž Centre in Maribor. The 18 million euro project will address the spatial problems of three key cultural institutions in Maribor: the Maribor Library, the Maribor Art Gallery and the Art Cinema.

Additionally, a series of measures designed to revitalise the coal regions’ housing stock have been integrated in the Progamme under the Just Transition Fund. 5 million euros has been ring-fenced for the Savinjsko-Šaleška coal region to transfer the housing units owned by energy companies to the Housing Fund of the Republic of Slovenia. The Zasavje coal region will benefit from 1 million euros for the refurbishment and transfer of housing units.

‘’Approved Programme amendment is not just a technical adjustment. Rather, it is a strategic decision which will drive the effectiveness of cohesion policy implementation in the second half of the programming period. By concentrating our investments in critical infrastructures, resilience, and particularly in affordable housing, we address head on concrete issues on the ground. These measures guarantee that, by 2030, EU funding will generate lasting social and economic benefits,’’ said State Secretary Mag. Marko Koprivc at the end of the meeting. 

Andreas von Busch from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) underscored the importance of keeping the implementation momentum: ‘’Implementation of your cohesion Programme has seen significant boost lately and it is extremely important to keep this momentum as we continue further. It is important to keep this pace, not only to ensure implementation is swift, but also to maximise the effect of investments on the ground. We welcome Slovenia’s proactive approach to designing this amendment and recognising the areas where mid-term review priorities, such as support to strategic technologies and competitiveness, energy transition, or skills, bring added value. Today, we must make sure that the changed Programme brings tangible results and adds value to cohesion policy for all citizens, no matter where they live.’’

System improvements for a more effective implementation

The changes introduce important administrative simplifications, including extension of eligibility period by the end of 2030 and the possibility of 100 % co-financing from the EU for certain new objectives.

Following today’s approval of the amendment by both the government and the Monitoring Committee, the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development will officially submit the Programme amendment to the Commission for approval.