Vice-premier Rasi to Enjoy Extended Powers, Taking Over Regional Development

Bratislava, October 16 (TASR) – Vice-premier for Investments and Informatisation Richard Rasi (Smer-SD) is to receive extended powers, as he will take over the agenda of regional development, under the amendment to the Government Activities and Central State Administration Organisation Act approved by the Parliament on Tuesday.

The change is designed to simplify the support for regions, with Rasi’s post selected to coordinate regional policies also because measures of the Agenda 2030 fall under its remit. According to Rasi, activities of the Vice-premier for Investments and Informatisation’s Office are closely linked to reducing regional disparities. “Hence, shifting the agenda of regional development under our office is logical,” claimed Rasi. The new law will come into effect as of January 1, 2019.

Rasi added that as Vice-premier he also manages the central coordination of European Funds, the main purpose of which is to decrease regional disparities. Without the European Funds, development of six out of eight Slovak regions would grind to a halt, he maintains.