Development Council of the Koroška Region and the Council of the Koroška Region

The Koroška Regional Development Council and the Koroška Regional Council were held in the Municipality of Muta today, Friday, October 25, 2024, where the mayor of the Municipality of Muta, Angelica Mrak, took over the leadership for a period of one year. At the session, the RRA Koroška presented the projects of the Agreement for the Development of the Regions, development measures after the floods, and the establishment of an animal shelter in Koroška.

The Koroška region has EUR 21,394,737.33 of European funds available through the Regional Development Agreement mechanism for the period 2021–2027. Last year, the PONI project was already approved as part of the mechanism, which has been implemented since December 2023. EUR 19,855,885.51 remained available to the region for the second invitation, and beneficiaries could choose between different priorities. 19 new projects were approved at the session, 3 in the field of wastewater treatment, 2 in the field of reducing water losses in water supply systems, 11 in the field of greening settlements, 2 in the field of building a national bicycle network and the Regional Mobility Center. The projects were identified by all municipalities in the Koroška region. The total value of the projects (with the share of municipalities) amounts to EUR 25,835,548.60. The next phase will be a review of the projects by the relevant ministries, so that the approval of the DRR is expected in 2025.

The Reconstruction, Development and Provision of Financial Resources Act, in Article 99, provides for the adoption of a Programme of Development Incentive Measures. In July 2024, the RRA Koroška, together with the municipalities and the Koroška Chamber of Commerce, prepared a set of projects worth a total of 472 million euros. The projects cover the areas of economic, environmental, social, cultural and human resource development. Coordination is currently underway with the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, which is responsible for preparing the Programme by law. Other line ministries also have a key say in the decision, in principle with the Ministry of Finance, which will define the value of the funds that will be allocated to the development of the region after the floods.

Koroška is the only region in Slovenia, apart from Zasavje, without an animal shelter. The problems and costs associated with abandoned animals are increasing year by year. With the aim of solving this problem, the RRA Koroška has prepared a project proposal that envisages the construction of a shelter at the Slovenj Gradec wastewater treatment plant. The estimated value of the investment is just under 1.2 million euros, and it would include 20 boxes for dogs and 35 boxes for cats. Namely, there are more than 9 thousand registered dogs in the region, and the municipality has almost 80,000 euros in costs annually with abandoned animals. The mayors unanimously adopted a decision that the RRA Koroška will continue with the activities of preparing investment and project documentation.

Statement by the Director of the RRA Koroška, Uroš Rozman: "With more than 21 million euros of European funds available to us through the mechanism of the Regional Development Agreement, we will be able to implement numerous important projects in the region. I must emphasize that we are proud that all 12 Koroška municipalities are participating in this. As part of the post-flood reconstruction, we must take advantage of the opportunity to obtain development funds, where we have identified projects worth a total of 472 million euros. Coordination with the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development is underway, and we hope that with the support of all relevant ministries, we will obtain the necessary funds for the revitalization of Koroška after the floods. These projects will contribute to sustainable development and improve the quality of life of the region's residents. I am also pleased to welcome the progress in establishing an animal shelter, which will put our community's responsibility towards animals first. Together with our partners, we will work hard to implement these projects."