Slovak News Back to the news
Transport Ministry to Get New Powers as of November
Tuesday 27 July 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, July 27 (TASR) - The Transport Ministry is to gain extended powers within a few months, particularly in the fields of regional development, tourism and co-ordination of the use of European funds.
In line with these changes, the ministry will be re-named the Transport, Regional Development and Tourism Ministry as of November 1, 2010.
"This step is substantiated by the urgent need to increase the efficiency of drawing financial resources from EU Funds," says the ministry's report.
The new minister, Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) chairman Jan Figel, told TASR in early July that he considers this change to be "a great personal as well as professional challenge." He thinks that the new enhanced ministry will create better conditions for Slovakia's land development. "Infrastructure is closely linked to the construction and regional development agenda, with the added benefit that making tourism truly dynamic can bring."
Former transport minister Lubomir Vazny (Smer-SD) thinks that extending the powers of the ministry is a step in the wrong direction, as the Transport, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry even in its current form is too much for one person to run. "It's difficult to head this ministry even as it is now," he pointed out.
Vazny also levelled criticism at the new powers, which he deems inappropriate for the Transport Ministry. "For instance, tourism has got very little to do with this ministry, it's the wrong decision."
Figel thinks otherwise, calling the power merger a synergy that can take place in the Slovak environment for the first time ever. "I'm convinced that this is all about expertise, a systematic approach, teamwork, co-operation with other ministries and, of course, co-operation between Slovakia and other countries," he added.
All rights reserved. Any publishing or further dissemination of press releases and photographs from TASR's resources without TASR's prior written approval constitutes a violation of the Copyrights Act.
