Cities and higher territorial units can apply for EU funding to deal with the consequences of the corona crisis

The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic announced an updated call for applications for public health contribution and reduction of the effects of coronavirus pandemic at regional and local level. With this challenge, the resort wants to help reduce the impact on regional and local government budgets in protecting public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The European Regional Development Fund will provide EUR 16 million for this purpose.

All regional cities, including the capital of the Slovak Republic Bratislava and higher territorial units, can participate in the call. The municipalities that create the so-called urban functional areas of regional cities will also be able to benefit from funding. Nearly 200 eligible municipalities, which, in cooperation with regional cities, may request funds to cover the increased expenditure of the measures taken to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. These territories are characterised by higher population rates, high migration, a dense network of urban public transport. Large cities are a popular place for people with disadvantaged groups with fewer or no hygiene habits, homeless and more exposed to disease. The call is implemented under specific objective 2.1.4 An integrated regional operational programme aimed at strengthening capacities in the health system and protecting public health in response to the WHOID-19 pandemic.

As part of the update of the call published on 9 March, there has been an increase in the indicative amount of funding to EUR 16 million from the European Regional Development Fund. The amount of the eligible applicants' contribution is determined by the number of inhabitants of the municipality to which the funds will be granted, the amount of the allowance per capita being set at EUR 7.32. The call creates a space for partnership between regional cities and self-governing regions in order to increase the effectiveness of the aid provided.

The challenge and its update is available on the website https://www.mpsr.sk/calls/376under IROP-PO2-SC214-2020-63.