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Fico Grilled on Economy Ahead of EU Summit
Tuesday 23 March 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, March 23 (TASR) - Slovakia's long-term goal is to raise its spending on R&D to 1.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2015, Prime Minister Robert Fico told Parliamentary European Affairs Committee ahead of the European Union summit on EU strategy 'Europe 2020' due to take place March 25-26 in Brussels.
Committee member Ivan Stefanec pointed out that Government earmarks less funds for the education, science and research than four years ago, stressing the ecological management whereas wanting to close down the environment ministry.
Fico countered by saying the three ministries including education, health and social affairs would get more money this year than last. He adding that, according to the recently released figures Slovakia ranks among countries with the lowest at-risk-of poverty rate.
As for the environment ministry merger with the agriculture ministry planned for the next government, the decision can be reversed. "We consider it proper to merge both sectors," said Fico adding it will be a strong economic ministry.
All this is predicated on whether Slovakia will kickstart its economic growth. The country is well positioned to become one of the few countries in Europe which will see their economies grow this year, he added.
He praised the finance ministry for striving to cut the deficit in 2010. "The deficit across Europe goes up in 2010 from 7 to 7.5 percent of GDP but we are trending downwards," said Fico.
Slovakia has the second lowest debt across the eurozone as was confirmed by the international institutions. "It therefore was not true that this government is getting itself deep in debt. The average debt rate in European Union stands at 80 percent of GDP while Slovakia at under 40 percent," he said.
Worrying according to Fico is consistently high joblessness as well as the amount of black labour which was found to stand at 17 percent during inspections at different workplaces.
"My answer is - to kickstart economic growth, focus on unemployment and I am confident that Slovakia under certain circumstances may play a major role in meeting the goals of Europe 2020," he said in conclusion.
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