Slovak agriculture ministry achieves record EU fund utilization

In Slovakia, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported a historic achievement in utilizing EU funds, announcing that over 209 million euros were drawn down in 2024. This announcement came from Minister Richard Takáč during a press conference held on June 30, 2025. He highlighted the immense increase in fund absorption compared to previous years, particularly under the governments led by Igor Matovič, Eduard Heger, and Ľudovít Ódor. The previous administration's performance had fallen miserably, positioning Slovakia at the bottom of the EU rankings for effective fund utilization in 2023. The data provided by Takáč offers a stark contrast to the figures of his predecessors. Under the Matovič government in 2021, only 45 million euros were utilized, which fell to 39 million euros in 2022. The following year, 2023, saw a minor improvement with 64 million euros. However, the significant leap to over 209 million euros achieved in 2024 demonstrates a turnaround attributed to improvements in processes and strategies at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Payment Agency (PPA). To facilitate this historic fund utilization, Takáč outlined several systemic measures that had been implemented within the ministry, including a streamlined approach to investments, the introduction of small investment thresholds up to 100,000 euros, and a major reduction in the necessary on-site inspections required for fund access—from 100% to just 5%. Additionally, they supplemented financial resources for various calls and introduced advance payments, allowing for quicker access to funds for eligible parties. The PPA also played a significant role by increasing administrative capacities and improving the efficiency of application evaluations. This combination of reforms and measures significantly reduced bureaucratic obstacles, allowing funds to flow more freely into the agricultural sector. The minister's remarks were also fired at previous governments' inefficiencies and indicated a sense of urgency and responsibility to improve outcomes in this critical area of public funding, setting a new standard for future administrations.