📋 Tender Overview
The National Assembly adopted an amendment to the Act on the Promotion of Harmonious Regional Development and the Act on the Developmental Restructuring of the Savinjsko-Saleska (SASA) Coal Region. These are important laws that will mark the future development of Slovenian regions, reduce development disparities and ensure a fair transition for the region in its gradual withdrawal from coal.Minister Jevsek and State Secretary Durov in the National Assembly Author: Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development
Despite numerous projects and investments, Slovenia still faces large differences in the economic development of the regions. The differences between the regions, especially between the Central Slovenian region and the rest of Slovenia, are deepening, which affects productivity, the availability of quality jobs and the accessibility of services.
The amendment to the Act on Harmonious Regional Development brings a new strategic approach to planning regional development, based on long-termism, partnership and a polycentric growth model. The central elements of the law are:
Regional development strategy of Slovenia until 2050,
Action program of the government and
Agreement for the development of regions as implementing documents harmonized with the European Plan for national and regional partnerships.
The law strengthens cooperation between the state and regions and introduces a tailor-made approach that enables more effective coordination of needs, opportunities and development priorities. Special emphasis is placed on quality jobs, more efficient use of public funds and accessibility of key services close to home. The novelty also represents a legal basis for the establishment of offices of development regions and associations of municipalities in Brussels, with which Slovenia wants to increase its success in obtaining European funds, emphasized the Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Dr. Aleksander Jevsek.
The SASA Coal Region Development Restructuring Act brings new opportunities to the region after exiting coal. The SASA region faces the expected loss of approximately 5,000 jobs due to the gradual closure of Premogovnik Velenje, so it is imperative to create new development opportunities and ensure a stable, fair and sustainable economic transition.
The law establishes a comprehensive set of measures for the period 2026-2035, including:
programs for the economy, energy, environment and social cohesion,
strategic projects such as:
renovation of the district heating system in Saleska dolina,
transition of the TES energy site to renewable energy sources,
Valley of start-up and fast-growing companies project,
support for the cultural and creative sector and the preservation of the coal heritage,
support for strategically important properties.
The law will be implemented in the area of ten municipalities, and funds will be provided from the European cohesion policy, the state budget and municipal budgets. It is a horizontal approach that includes several departments and follows the principles of a just transition as defined by the European Union.
The common goal of both laws is development tailored to the people. The common goal of both laws is the balanced development of Slovenia, which is based on:
creating and maintaining quality jobs,
reducing developmental differences,
the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future,
better access to public services,
higher quality of life in all parts of the country.
As emphasized by the Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development Dr. Aleksander Jevsek, quality jobs and services close to home are the biggest guarantee of harmonious regional development. Strong regions mean a strong Slovenia.
