President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gasparovic visited Kosice Self-governing Region (KSR). Together with Zdenko Trebula, President of KSR he attended a working meeting with mayors of towns and municipalities of the region. The President said he supported endeavours of self-governing regions to make decisions about the European funds. According to him underdeveloped regions including Kosice Region need a real aid from the state also through European funds. He said he backs the idea that state aid should be provided from the budget as well as European funding. Ministries should not make decisions about the European funds and projects, but should ensure regions get an appropriate package of funds. And the regional authorities should decide how to use the funds effectively. Gasparovic emphasized that for its further development, the Kosice Self-governing Region needs an improvement in infrastructure, which has direct impact on other investors to come. In his opinion such assistance is absolutely definite and feasible today, especially in the form of EU funds. He suggested Slovakia can not advance without assisting regions lagging behind. According to Gasparovic Eastern Slovakia, unlike Western Slovakia, still disposes of available, qualified work force and R&D potential. In this regard the Regional governor Zdenko Trebula mentioned that there are only 5 km of motorways in the region and the past deficit on repairs and reconstructions of second- and third-class roads amounts to SKK 30 billion. He expressed his concerns about the allusions of the Ministry considering cut down of means allocated for reconstruction of the Slovak roads from EUR 250 to 150 million.
During discussion with the president and seminar on Cooperation of municipal and regional governments attended by 280 mayors, hosted by the Office of KSR, most frequent themes concerned shortcomings in the Slovak legislation regarding legal and property relations to land, caused partly by disproportional allocation of EU funds. Some fundamental documents on development of the region were presented during the second part of the, namely 2007-2013 Regional Operational Programme, Rural Development Strategy, Programme of Economic and Social Development of KSR, KSR Cross-border Cooperation, and preparation of KSR Concepts of Development of Sport and Social Services, respectively.