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ÚMS asks politicians not to question Slovakia’s anchoring in the EU and NATO

by AI | 04.Feb 2025 | Europe in brief AI

Chairman of the ÚMS and mayor of Trenčín Richard Rybníček asks Slovak politicians not to question the country’s membership in the EU.

Chairman of the ÚMS Richard Rybníček called on Slovak politicians not to question EU membership. PHOTO: TASR

Bratislava – The Union of Slovak Cities (ÚMS) calls on all political representatives who have the ambition to question Slovakia’s anchoring in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) in any way not to do so. This was stated by the President of ÚMS and the Mayor of Trenčín, Richard Rybníček, at a press conference after the 37th Assembly of ÚMS in Bratislava. He also spoke about the need to calm the situation in society, informs TASR.

“Eighty percent of all investments we currently have in Slovak cities are EU funds. Without these funds, we would not be able to develop our cities to the extent they are now, and without these funds, we would be just poor relatives,” emphasized Rybníček.

In connection with the programming period of EU cohesion policy after 2027, the ÚMS will advocate for the preservation of the principle of subsidiarity. It rejects any centralization of financial resources. “We insist that financial resources for urban development continue to be allocated,” he clarified.

At the same time, the ÚMS called on the Slovak government headed by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to allocate funds for local governments in connection with increased costs for salaries of employees in education and for 800-euro bonuses for public administration employees.

Vice President of ÚMS and Mayor of Banská Bystrica, Ján Nosko, also drew attention to the situation with bridges, whose reconstruction or new construction, according to him, is beyond the financial capabilities of local governments. Many of the bridges located in local government areas, in his opinion, are of superior transport infrastructure character.

“We will initiate a meeting with the Ministry of Transport and its subordinate organizations, whether it is the National Highway Company or the Slovak Road Administration, so that we can clearly determine who owns the bridge structures,” added Nosko. (February 4)

“Eighty percent of all investments we currently have in Slovak cities are EU funds. Without these funds, we would not be able to develop our cities to the extent they are now, and without these funds, we would be just poor relatives.” Richard Rybníček.