52025PC0653

Furthermore, the reform shall incorporate the adoption of investment schemes for support of the renewable electricity sources. The Ministry of Economy shall adopt an auction scheme for new renewable energy sources (link to Investment 1, Component 1) and support schemes for investments on repowering (link to Investment 2, Component 1) and increasing flexibility of the electricity system (link to Investment 3, Component 1). The investment policies of the schemes shall strictly adhere to both EU and national environmental legislation as well as to the Do-Not-Significant-Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) of supported activities and companies. Only investments into hydropower that are in line with the EU acquis shall be supported by the Slovak recovery and resilience plan.

The implementation of reform shall be completed by 31 December 2022.

Investment 1: Construction of new renewable electricity sources

The objective of this measure is to support the roll out of investments into new renewable sources of electricity. This measure follows upon the creation of a support scheme under the reform 2.

This measure consists in the delivery of new generating capacity induced by new renewable energy sources connected to the grid.

Investment 2: Modernising the existing renewable energy sources (repowering)

The objective of this measure is to extend the technological lifetime, upgrade and increase the efficiency of existing renewable energy source capacities (repowering). This measure follows upon the creation of a support scheme under the reform 2.

This measure consists of refurbishing biogas stations, transforming biogas-based electricity generation facilities into biomethane plants, and hydropower generation facilities.

Investment 3: Increasing the flexibility of electricity systems for greater integration of renewables

The objective of this measure is to increase the flexibility of the Slovak electricity network. This measure follows upon the creation of a support scheme under the reform 2.

This measure consists of supporting electricity storage facilities and increasing the electricity balancing capacity in hydropower plants.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	1 – Renewable energy sources and energy infrastructure – Reform 1: Adapting the electricity legal framework	Milestone	Reform of electricity market	Entry into force of legislative amendments to the Act on energy and Act on regulation in network industries				Q4	2022	The legal framework shall be modified by amending Act 251/2012 Coll. on energy and Act 250/2012 Coll. on regulation in network industries to transpose the Directive 2019/944. Furthermore, the updated legal framework shall facilitate the new activities and access of participants to the electricity market (energy communities, aggregator, self-consumer, electricity storage), while increasing overall flexibility of the electricity system and improving the possibilities for connecting of new renewable sources to the Slovak grid.
2	1 – Renewable energy sources and energy infrastructure – Reform 1: Adapting the electricity legal framework	Milestone	Release of restrictions on technical capacities for electricity transmission within the Slovak electricity system	Joint public declaration by the Ministry of Economy and the Slovak transmission system operator Slovenská elektrizačná prenosová sústava, a.s.				Q2	2021	The Slovak Ministry of Economy and the Slovak electricity transmission system operator Slovenská elektrizačná prenosová sústava, a.s. shall declare the release of restrictions on technical capacities for electricity transmission within the Slovak electricity system and an increase of capacity for connecting renewable sources to the grid. The measure shall be facilitated through the increase in net transfer capacity of transmission interconnections with the Republic of Hungary.
3	1 – Renewable energy sources and energy infrastructure – Reform 2: The legal framework for promotion of renewable energy sources	Milestone	Framework for supporting the investments into new renewable sources	Entry into force of legislative amendments to the Act on the promotion of renewable energy sources and high-efficiency cogeneration and to the Act on thermal energy. Adoption of a long-term auctioning plan by the Ministry of Economy Adoption of investment schemes by the Ministry of Economy for the promotion of new sources of electricity from renewable energy sources (defined in Investment 1), investments to repowering (defined in Investment 2) and investments increasing flexibility of the electricity system (defined in Investment 3)				Q4	2022	The legislative amendments shall create support mechanisms for increasing the share of renewable energy sources in transport, electricity and heating sector. The legal framework shall be modified by amending the Acts 309/2009 Coll. on promotion of renewable energy sources and high-efficiency cogeneration and the Act 657/2004 Coll. on thermal energy. The Ministry of Economy shall adopt a long-term auctioning plan for new renewable sources, contributing to better predictability of the increase in capacity of new renewable capacity. The Ministry of Economy shall adopt the new auction scheme for new sources of electricity from renewable energy sources (defined in Investment 1), the support schemes to investments on repowering (defined in Investment 2) and increasing flexibility of the electricity system (defined in Investment 3). The schemes shall detail the eligibility criteria for supported companies, ensuring compliance with the EU and national environmental acquis as well as the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) of supported activities and/or companies, while increasing the new RES capacities as detailed in corresponding targets (for Investments 1, 2 and 3). The biomass projects shall result in upgrades of biogas stations achieving at least 80% GHG emissions savings in relation to the greenhouse gas saving methodology and comparator set in Annex VI to Directive (EU) 2018/2001, in line with the conditions resulting from Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139. In the event of transformation into installations producing biomethane, greenhouse gas emission savings shall amount to at least 70% in relation to the greenhouse gas saving methodology and fossil fuel comparator set out in Annex VI to that Directive. Biomass and biomethane projects shall be sustainable in line with the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EU (REDII) Only investments into hydro-power that are in line with the EU acquis shall be supported.
4	1 – Renewable energy sources and energy infrastructure – Investment 1: Construction of new renewable electricity sources	Target	New renewable energy source capacity		MW	0	120	Q2	2026	At least 120 MW in new renewable electricity sources capacity shall be connected to the grid under the measure’s support scheme. A copy of the functional test of the new electricity source (indicating installed capacity in MW and type of the renewable energy source) and of the distribution system connection agreement. The support scheme shall take the form of auctions for investment support for new sources of electricity from renewable energy sources, except for hydropower.
5	1 – Renewable energy sources and energy infrastructure – Investment 2: Modernising the existing renewable energy sources (repowering)	Target	Reconstructed renewable energy source capacity		MW	0	70	Q2	2026	At least 70 MW of modernised capacity (repowering) for renewable electricity generation or biomethane production shall be connected to the grids.
6	1 – Renewable energy sources and energy infrastructure – Investment 3: Increasing flexibility of electricity systems for greater renewables integration	Target	Cumulative increase in capacity of installations increasing the flexibility of energy systems		MW	0	96,7	Q2	2026	Installations supported by the scheme shall enter into operation, resulting in at least a 96,7 MW increase of electricity storage capacities. Supported technologies shall include new battery systems or electrolysis, or an increase in the balancing capacity of the hydropower plants. Investment support into the balancing capacity of the hydropower plants shall not exceed EUR 12 000 000 under the measure.

COMPONENT 2: Renovation of buildings

According to the Slovak National Energy and Climate Plan and the Long-term renovation Strategy for Buildings, reaching the 2030 and 2050 EU emission reduction objectives requires a significant shift from the implementation of partial to medium (30-60% primary energy savings) and deep (over 60%) renovation of buildings.

This component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan aims at reduction of energy consumption by pursuing a comprehensive renovation of family houses, public historic and listed buildings. It combines measures to improve energy performance of buildings by achieving at least 30% of primary energy savings with measures to foster climate adaptation (such as installing green roofs, water retention system). The component contributes to the climate and environmental objectives, while boosting the recovery and competitiveness of the construction sector by creating more jobs, in particular for SMEs at local level.

It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).

The component includes 3 reforms and 2 investments.

These investments and reforms shall contribute to addressing the Country Specific Recommendations addressed to Slovakia in the past two years, on the need to “focus investment-related policy on energy efficiency” (Country Specific Recommendation 3/2019) and to “focus investment on the green transition” (Country Specific Recommendation 3/2020).

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform 1: The harmonisation of support mechanisms for the renovation of family houses.

The objective of the reform is to map, align and bring together different support schemes, to uniform and streamline the renovation process, and to provide incentives to owners for implementing a wider range of renovation measures. Design of the support schemes, criteria and conditions as well as implementation steps shall be outlined in the implementation plan to be published by Slovak Environmental Agency by 30 September 2022. To ensure effective and timely implementation, capacities of the Slovak Environmental Agency shall be strengthened. In the implementation phase, house owners shall be reached out to through a communication campaign and to-be-established regional offices as well as by providing a technical assistance and consultation.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 September 2022.

Investment 1: Increasing energy efficiency of family houses.

The objective of this measure is to increase the energy efficiency of family houses. This measure consists in the renovation of single family houses to achieve, on average, at least 30% primary energy savings.

Reform 2: Increasing transparency and streamlining decisions of the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic.

The reform aims at improving quality and efficiency of the decision-making process of the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic by developing three methodologies to:

·classify the monuments endowment,

·set objective criteria by which Monuments Board makes decisions and

·quantify the costs associated with the interventions of the Monuments Board

In addition, the objective is to reform the mapping of state-owned monuments by assessing their basic technical aspects, construction, economic, energy-related and other aspects. The mapping shall result in adopting a diagnostics of at least 1 000 relevant state-owned monuments. The reform shall facilitate investment decisions on renovation with a view to preserving the monumental value as well as improving energy efficiency, where applicable.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2023.

Investment 2: Renovation of historical and listed public buildings.

The objective of this measure is to increase the energy efficiency and structural integrity of historic and listed public buildings while preserving their historical and cultural heritage and making them more accessibile. This measure consists in the renovation of historical and listed public buildings while achieving, on average, at least 30% of primary energy savings.

Reform 3: The management of construction and demolition waste.

The reform addresses the very low recycling rate of Slovakia and is centred on the revision of waste management legislation to increase the potential of the circular economy in the construction and demolition waste. The Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic shall table the waste legislation amendment, which shall require that at least 70% of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste generated on construction is prepared for re-use or sent for recycling. In addition, the reform shall introduce a mandatory selective demolition, quality standards for recycling from construction and demolition waste, mandatory green public procurement for the contracting of construction works, simplify the rules and improve data collection systems for construction waste. Once in force, the legislation shall ensure “do-no-significant harm” compliance with the requirement of the 70% recycling and reusing of non- hazardous demolition and construction waste to apply to renovation and construction of buildings financed under the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 June 2022.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support.

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	2 – Renovation of buildings – Reform 1: The harmonisation of support mechanisms for the renovation of family houses	Milestone	Implementation plan to mobilize green renovation of family houses	Adoption of the implementation plan by the Ministry of Environment				Q3	2022	The implementation plan shall map different support schemes and harmonise them. It shall detail preparation for the start-up of the scheme, timetable and its administration as well as the monitoring of the reconstruction and verification of energy savings primarily by energy performance certificates, or other corresponding documents.
2	2 – Renovation of buildings – Investment 1: Increasing the energy efficiency of family houses	Milestone	Launch of the support schemes to mobilise energy savings and green renovation	Launch of the support schemes to mobilise energy savings and green renovation				Q3	2022	The schemes to mobilise energy savings and green renovation shall be designed and launched in line with the measures and schedule adopted by implementation plan. Respective calls shall be published by the Slovak Environmental Agency at a website. The schemes shall be designed to incentivize on an average at least 30% primary energy savings and comply with “Do no significant harm” Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) requirements. A list of possible measures includes: insulation, replacement of windows, restoration of roof, rainwater retention, boiler replacement or removal of asbestos cover, or other measures in line with description of the investment.
4	2 – Renovation of buildings – Investment 1: Increasing the energy efficiency of family houses	Target	Number of renovated family houses achieving, on average, at least 30% primary energy savings		Number	0	25 164	Q2	2026	25 164 single family houses shall be renovated. The renovated buildings shall achieve on average at least 30% primary energy savings. The calls shall ensure that gas boiler replacements are compliant with the DNSH requirements and account for maximum 20% of the overall renovation programmes. In case biomass boilers are included in the renovation scheme, the replacement of obsolete coal/oil/biomass/gas boilers by biomass boilers shall be allowed, if replaced by high-efficiency biomass boilers in one of the two highest energy efficiency classes under the energy labelling regulation fuelled by pellets. The calls shall not allow the replacement of gas boilers by biomass boilers in Air Quality zones with exceedance of PM10 limit values.
5	2. Renovation of buildings – Reform 2: Increasing transparency and streamlining decisions of the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic	Milestone	Methodologies for the decision-making process of the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic	Publication of methodologies by the Monuments Board			3	Q4	2023	Development and adoption of the three methodologies to classify monument buildings in order to increase the transparency, public acceptance and speed up the decision-making processes of the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic. Based on standardised methodologies, diagnostics of at least 1 000 state-owned monuments shall be adopted by the Monuments Board to provide diagnostics of the basic technical aspects, construction, economic, energy-related and other aspects of the relevant state-owned monuments to facilitate renovation decisions.
7	2- Renovation of buildings – Investment 2: Renovation of public historical and listed buildings	Target	Floor area of renovated public historical and listed buildings achieving, on average, at least 30% of primary energy savings		Area (m2)	0	99 348	Q2	2026	At least 99 348 m2 of historic and listed public buildings are renovated in compliance with the requirements of the open call, which shall define conditions to achieve on average at least 30% primary energy savings, comply with DNSH principles and shall allow the execution of other complementary measures (e.g. rainwater retention, removal of asbestos, accessibility of buildings). Where boiler replacement is supported, it shall account for maximum 20% of the overall renovation programme.
8	2 – Renovation of building – Reform 3: The management of construction and demolition waste	Milestone	The amendment to the Waste Act	Entry into force of the legislative amendment to the Waste Act		0	1	Q2	2022	The revised waste legislation by the Ministry of Environment shall increase the potential of the circular economy in the construction and demolition waste and construction sector, leading to at least 70% of the non-hazardous construction and demolition waste to be recycled and reused. It shall include mandatory green public procurement for construction investments within the state administration, increase the statutory fees for the landfilling and simplify the rules for the use of construction and demolition waste.

COMPONENT 3: Sustainable transport

The component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan aims at increasing the share of environmentally friendly forms of transport, through measures and smart solutions based on data analysis, to increase the number of passengers travelling by rail and public passenger transport, the volume of goods transported in environmentally friendly intermodal transport, as well as to support the development of alternative propulsion infrastructure, thereby reducing CO2 emissions in transport and improving air quality. Smart and digital investments shall support faster, more reliable and more efficient rail and clean public passenger transport, motivating passengers to switch from cars and other carbon-based means of transport. The component shall allow a wider use of alternative propulsions for sustainable, environmentally friendly, affordable and smart transport, while also promoting the use of smart grids. It shall contribute to the competitiveness of the economy by creating market conditions for the suppliers of transport machinery.

Reforms and investment under the component address directly the Council Recommendation on the 2020 National Reform Programme of Slovakia and the Council opinion on the 2020 Stability Programme of Slovakia, according to which Slovakia "shall implement ready public investment projects as soon as possible and support private sector investment to support economic recovery. Focus investment on the green and digital transitions, in particular on clean and efficient production and use of energy and resources, sustainable public transport and waste management.”

The component includes four reforms and four investments.

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform 1 on the preparation of transport investment projects.

The reform aims at improving the management of investments and increasing their economic benefits. This shall be achieved through the following measures:

·the establishment by 30 June 2021 of an investment plan for railway infrastructure projects prioritising projects according to their value for money;

·amendments, by 31 March 2023 to the Railways Act and related legislation simplifying and streamlining the legislative and technical requirements for transport infrastructure parameters;

·the publication by 31 December 2021 of a methodology determining how to identify projects with the highest value for money possible and contribute to the objective of passenger modal shift from individual road transport to cycling.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 March 2023.

Reform 2 on public passenger transport.

The reform aims at improving the provision of passenger transport. A new transport service plan, followed by the optimisation of rail passenger transport, shall form a major part of the comprehensive reform of public transport. The reform shall be supported by new legislation defining rules, responsibilities and obligations in the coordination, ordering and financing of regional bus and train services. The legislation shall define a national authority to coordinate, in cooperation with regional integrators, the creation of a national integrated transport system with a unified fare, as well as to coordinate the preparation and implementation of public procurement procedures for both public passenger rail services and vehicles purchased with the support of EU funds for the operation of these routes in previous periods. The frequency of rail transport on the lines with the highest potential for transferring traffic from cars to trains shall be increased, allowing for better coordination of regional public bus and train services. The following specific measures shall underpin this reform:

·By 31 March 2023 a new law shall create public passenger transport standards and streamline the public service order, which is currently fragmented and insufficiently coordinated between the State, counties, cities and municipalities.

·By 31 December 2023 optimised rail transport graphics shall be published;

Reform 3 on intermodal freight transport.

The reform shall support increased inter-modality through procurement, the coordination of logistics and promoting the launch of new intermodal routes. The objective of this reform is to shift 30 % of road transport over 300 km to rail or waterborne by 2030 and over 50 % to 2050 (compared to 2005). It shall do so notably by promoting the interest of carriers in shifting road freight to rail/intermodal transport, as well as preventing further modal shift of rail transport. The preparation and approval of a Concept of intermodal transport development, including the proposal for necessary legislative changes, shall make it possible to adopt measures for the systemic development of environmentally friendly freight transport modes. Support shall be aimed at removing technical problems in the transition to intermodal transport and making it more attractive.

The implementation of the reform is expected to start by 31 December 2021 and shall be completed by 31 December 2022.

Reform 4 on the introduction of new policies for the long-term promotion of alternative fuels in the transport sector.

The reform shall be supported through the entry into force, by 31 December 2022 of new legislative measures shall reform distribution tariffs, simplify and accelerate the process of constructing alternative propulsion infrastructure. They shall also introduce a ‘Recharging Point Rights’ and a stable, predictable multi-annual framework to support the construction of relevant alternative propulsion infrastructure.

Investment 1 on the development of low-carbon transport infrastructure.

The objective of this investment is to promote the use of clean transport infrastructure. This investment consists of electrification of railway lines, upgrading railway lines, installation dispatching/digital security and communication devices, construction or modernising tram and trolleybus lines, and constructing cycling infrastructure.

Investment 2 promoting clean passenger transport.

The objective of this investment is to promote the deployment of clean passenger transport. The investment consists of delivery of new or upgraded rail and tram rolling stocks.

Investment 3 on the development of intermodal freight transport.

The objective of this investment is to increase the volume of transport in more environmentally friendly intermodal transport. The investment consists of support for the purchase of intermodal transport units and loading facilities involving private capital and the launch of new intermodal routes on selected routes.

Investment 4 on the support for the construction of alternative propulsion infrastructure.

The objective of this investment focuses on the installation of recharging points for electric cars. This investment consists of a financial mechanism of aid schemes for the construction of recharging points infrastructure for zero and low-emission vehicles.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)				Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure		Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	3– Sustainable Transport – Reform 1: Reform of the preparation of transport investment projects	Milestone	Investment plan for railway infrastructure projects	Publication of the implementation plan					Q2	2021	The Ministry of Transport and Construction, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, shall prepare and publish an investment plan for railway infrastructure projects containing the methodology, priorities and timetable for the construction of the infrastructure. A published investment plan for railway infrastructure projects prioritising projects according to their value for money shall ensure the long-term stability of their preparation and implementation of railway infrastructure projects.
2	3 – Sustainable Transport – Reform 1: Reform of the preparation of transport investment projects	Milestone	Methodology for selecting, preparing and implementing projects for cycling	Publication of the methodology					Q4	2021	The methodology shall determine how to identify projects with the highest value for money possible and contribute to the objective of passenger modal shift from individual road transport to cycling.
3	3 – Sustainable Transport – Reform 1: Reform of the preparation of transport investment projects	Milestone	The amendment to the Railways Act and related legislation on transport infrastructure parameters	Entry into force of an amendment to the Railway Act by the National Council of the Slovak Republic and adoption of an amendment to the Decree No. 350/2010 Coll. on the construction and technical order of railway lines by the Ministry of Transport and Construction and entry into force of the legislation					Q1	2023	The legislative amendments shall simplify and streamline the legislative and technical requirements for transport infrastructure parameters, in line with good practice in other EU countries and European legislation, which shall create conditions to accelerate the pace of preparation of railway infrastructure upgrades, reduce the cost per kilometre of modernised line and enable faster and safer railways to be built earlier.
4	3 – Sustainable Transport – Reform 2: Public passenger transport reform	Milestone	New law on public passenger transport	Entry into force of the Act on Public Passenger Transport by the National Council of the Slovak Republic and entry into force of legislation to effectively coordinate, integrate and manage public transport					Q1	2023	The law shall standardise public passenger transport standards and to streamline the public service order, which is currently fragmented and insufficiently coordinated between the State, counties, cities and municipalities.
5	3 – Sustainable Transport – Reform 2: Public passenger transport reform	Milestone	Implementa-tion of optimised rail transport timetable	Entry into force of an optimised rail transport timetable					Q4	2023	The Ministry of Transport and Construction shall implement the ordering of rail passenger transport services according to the finalised Transport Service plan by 31 December 2023.
6	3– Sustainable Transport – Reform 2: Public passenger transport reform	Target	Number of self-governing regions in which tariff integration is in place allowing for travelling by multiple modes of public transport or by carriers per ticket		Number		1	6	Q2	2026	An integrated transport system shall be created and operating in at least 6 self-governing regions, allowing for multi-modal public passenger transport to travel on a single ticket. The quantitative indicator refers to the number of self-governing regions in which an integrated transport system is created, allowing multi-modal public passenger transport to travel on a single ticket.
7	3 – Sustainable transport – Investment 1: Development of low-carbon transport infrastructure	Target	Length of new cycling infrastructure (km)			Length (km)	0	161,8	Q2	2026	Construction of 161,8 kilometres of newly installed cycling infrastructure. The calls shall include as eligible projects cycling paths and bicycle parking spaces.
8	3 – Sustainable transport – Investment 1: Development of low-carbon transport infrastructure	Target	Length of public transport infrastructure reconstructed or upgraded		Length (weighted km)		0	49,7	Q2	2026	Reconstruction or upgrade of at least 49,7 weighted km of public transport infrastructure. Investment shall include one or more of the following project types: fully upgraded double track on the rail corridor with an increase to 160 km/h (weight factor 3.4); one or two track reconstructed line (renewal of track substructure/track foundation or traction line/equipment) (weight factor 0.5); single track newly electrified and partially upgraded railway line (weight factor 0.7); fully upgraded double track tram line including accessories (weight factor 1.9); one-way single track newly built trolleybus line including the power supply (weight factor 0.2).
9	3 – Sustainable transport – Investment 1: Development of low-carbon transport infrastructure	Target	Length of sections of railway lines digitally secured		Length (weighted km)		0	82	Q2	2026	Installation of dispatching/digital security and communication devices projects on at least 82 weighted km of railway lines. Investment shall include one or more of the following project types: newly dispatched railway line/section (weight factor 1); railway line/section with new digital security devices (weight factor 0.7); improvement of parameters on already dispatched track (e.g. by increasing the number of track divisions to improve traffic flow) (weight factor 0.3); building a GSM-R communication system to increase traffic safety on railway lines (weight factor 0.1).
10	3 – Sustainable transport – Investment 2: Promoting clean passenger transport	Target	Number of clean passenger rolling stock delivered (weighted)		Number		0	12	Q2	2026	Delivery for 12 weighted units of new rolling stock. The rolling stock shall include the following types of rolling stock: standard closed electric train units (weight factor 1,0), high-capacity closed electric train units (weight factor 3,0), trams (weight factor 0,3).
11	3- Sustainable transport - reform 3: Intermodal freight transport reform	Milestone	Concept and calls for new support schemes	Launch of calls for new support schemes on the basis of concept of intermodal transport development					Q4	2022	A Concept of intermodal transport development shall be approved by the Slovak Government by 31 December of 2021 This shall include proposals for the legislative changes necessary to adopt measures for the systemic development of environmentally friendly freight transport modes. Support shall be aimed at removing technical problems in the transition to intermodal transport and making it more attractive. On that basis by 31 December 2022 calls for new support schemes shall be launched that shall help to improve the availability of intermodal transport on a non-discriminatory basis, paving the way for its development in all regions of Slovakia. The call shall be approved by the Ministry of Transport and Construction.
12	3 – Sustainable transport – Investment 3: Development of intermodal freight transport	Milestone	Number of intermodal transport units procured in Twenty-foot Equivalent Units	Purchase contracts for intermodal transport units					Q2	2026	Procurement of at least 1 000 of intermodal transport units (handling semi-trailers, swap bodies, containers). Intermodal transport units shall be expressed in TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit).
13	3– Sustainable Transport – Reform 4: Introduction of new policies for the long-term promotion of alternative fuels in the transport sector	Milestone	a new package of measures to promote alternative propulsions	Entry into force of resolution to promote alternative propulsions					Q4	2022	The measures shall speed up the development of alternative propulsions in transport. These shall include a reform of distribution tariffs, measures to simplify and accelerate the process of constructing alternative propulsion infrastructure, the introduction of a ‘Recharging Point Rights’ and the introduction of a stable, predictable multi-annual framework to support the construction of relevant alternative propulsion infrastructure.
14	3 – Sustainable transport – Investment 4: Supporting the development of infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles	Target	Number of recharging points installed		Number		0	3 029	Q2	2026	Installation and connection to the electricity grid of the installations for at least 3 029 public recharging points. This shall also result in the installation of fast charging points with output of 50 kW and higher in each self-governing region of Slovakia.

COMPONENT 4: Decarbonisation of industry

Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions in Slovakia and the fulfilment of national targets, as set out in the 2021-2030 Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan, require also an accelerated action by the industry. Slovakia is a heavily industrialized economy, with energy and industrial processes contribution to overall greenhouse gas emissions of just above 70%. Slovakia ranks among the Member States with the highest average air concentrations of dust particles in the EU, largely due to aging industrial technologies and burning of fuels in households.

In this context, the component 4 of the Slovak reform and resilience plan proposes the development and operation of a decarbonisation scheme for the industrial sector. The measures shall lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions in enterprises, reduced energy losses a higher uptake of innovative environmental technologies in industrial production. The component embeds the reform commitment by the Slovak government to transit away from coal in the Upper Nitra region. It also includes commitment to end support for the production of electricity from indigenous coal and the closure of Nováky lignite power plant. The investment in the equipment of the Slovak Environmental Inspectorate shall strengthen the monitoring capacity of decarbonisation efforts by this institution.

The component includes two reforms and one principal and one complementary investment.

These reforms and investments shall contribute to the green transition objective and to climate target. The decarbonisation shall have lasting impact on environment and air quality in Slovakia. The investments shall strengthen competitiveness of Slovak industry and securing jobs at the local level. The transformation of the Upper Nitra region boasts a strong cohesion element, particularly in supporting the region in its transition away from coal.

The measures shall contribute to addressing the Country Specific Recommendation conveyed to Slovakia in 2020, on the need to “focus investment on the green digital transitions, in particular on clean and efficient production and use of energy and resources” (Country Specific Recommendation 3/2020).

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform 1: The termination of coal-based electricity production at Nováky power plant and transformation of the Upper Nitra region

This reform embeds the commitment of the Slovak government to progress with transition away from coal in the Upper Nitra region. The regional Nováky power plant has the third highest CO2 emissions among the Slovak EU’s Emission Trading Scheme installations.

The purpose of this measure is, for the Nováky lignite power plant, to end the support for production of electricity and to terminate the electricity generation from lignite. This shall deliver positive effects on environment and a price reduction for final electricity consumers.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2023.

Reform 2: Adoption of the competitive scheme for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in industry

The Slovak authorities shall launch a competitive decarbonisation scheme open to all industrial sectors. The decarbonisation scheme shall support the uptake of the best currently available technologies in industrial processes. The support shall target low carbon processes and technologies in industry and the adoption of energy efficiency measures.

Slovakia shall ensure that the strict requirements on compliance with environmental legislation, both at national and EU level, shall be ensured. This shall include the compliance of supported activities and companies with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).

The support to installations under the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme shall reduce their greenhouse gas emissions substantially below the benchmark relevant to the project bid. The ‘substantially below benchmark’ condition shall be part of selection criteria for the procurement.

The quantity of greenhouse gases emitted (in CO2 equivalent units, weighted average) of the enterprises supported by the scheme shall decrease by at least 30% as compared to the counterfactual scenario.

The Slovak authorities shall provide either data on decarbonisation for projects under the scheme (to be made available by 30 June 2026 at the latest) or demonstrate that the greenhouse gas emission savings is expected to be delivered based on assumed parameters of supported technologies under the measure (based on certificates by producers) or the combination of both approaches.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2022.

Investment 1: The operation of the industry decarbonisation scheme

The objective of this measure is to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions through project support to industrial enterprises. This measure consists in the completion of implementation of the industry decarbonisation projects supported by the RRF.

Investment 2: Supporting the functioning of the Slovak Environmental Inspectorate linked to decarbonisation

The objective of this measure is to strengthen the monitoring capacity of the Slovak Environmental Inspectorate in the decarbonisation process. The measure consists in implementing investments into modernisation of equipment and facilities of this institution.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone/ Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	4 – Decarbonisation of industry – Reform 1: The termination of coal-based electricity production at Nováky power plant and transformation of the Upper Nitra region	Milestone	Transition away from coal at the Upper Nitra region	Cessation of the lignite electricity generation at the Nováky Power Plant				Q4	2023	In the framework of transformation of the Upper Nitra region for the Nováky power plant: ·The Slovak authorities shall terminate the support to lignite electricity generation. ·The lignite electricity generation shall be discontinued
2	4 – Decarbonisa-tion of industry – Reform 2: The competitive scheme for greenhouse gas emissions reduction in industry	Milestone	Adoption of the industrial decarbonisation scheme	Adoption of the scheme on industrial decarbonisation by the Ministry of Environment				Q4	2022	Adoption of the industrial decarbonisation scheme delivering efficient results by the Ministry of Environment. The competitive decarbonisation scheme shall be rolled out through a non-discriminatory, transparent and open bidding process, open to all industrial sectors. The support shall target the low carbon processes and technologies in industry and adoption of energy efficiency measures. The investment policy of the scheme shall include at least the following eligibility and project selection criteria: ·the objective of the lowest price per tonne of the greenhouse gas saved; ·ensuring compliance with the EU acquis and national environmental laws as well as the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) of supported activities and companies and specifying decarbonisation targets. ·supporting only best available technology compliant projects; ·supported EU Emission Trading Scheme installations shall reduce their GHG emissions substantially below the benchmark relevant to the project bid. The ‘substantially below benchmark’ condition shall be part of selection criteria for the procurement. ·no solid fossil fuels shall be supported. The projects using natural gas as a main feedstock or energy source shall not be supported. For projects where natural gas is used to be eligible under the RRF scheme, natural gas shall not account for more than 20% of the final energy consumption of the equipment, machinery, energy generation. ·the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted (in CO2 equivalent units, weighted average) of the enterprises supported by the scheme shall decrease by at least 30% The Slovak authorities shall provide assurances on timely data delivery for all supported projects by 30 June 2026 at the latest or they shall demonstrate that greenhouse gas emissions savings are to be delivered based on assumed parameters of supported technologies (based on certificates by producers) or the combination of both approaches. The preliminary quantification of greenhouse gas emissions reductions by the decarbonisation projects may be based on technical documents stating key parameters, consumption of energy and input materials of supported technologies. The Slovak authorities shall share with the Commission the baseline scenarios as well as the projected impact of the supported technologies, following the selection of the projects.
3	4 – Decarbonisa-tion of industry – Investment 1: The operation of the industry decarbonisa-tion scheme	Milestone	Finalisation of the industry decarbonisation projects supported by the RRF	Finalisation of decarbonisation projects supported by the RRF				Q2	2026	The finalised decarbonisation scheme projects supported by the RRF shall deliver an overall reduction of 121 956,66 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, in addition to the counterfactual scenario presented to the Commission. The emission reduction shall be demonstrated through parameters of supported technologies under the measure.
4	4 – Decarbonisa-tion of industry – Investment 2: Ensuring the functioning of the Slovak Inspectorate of the Environment linked to decarbonisa-tion	Milestone	Capacity increasing investments for the Slovak Inspectorate of the Environment	Delivery of new equipment and modernised facilities of the Slovak Inspectorate of the Environment				Q2	2025	The investment shall include: (1) New inspectorate vehicles outfitted with office and measuring technology, specifically for inspecting of air protection, water protection and waste management; (2) Refurbished building premises of the Inspectorate, including but not limited to the insulation of the premises or renovation of the sanitation systems

COMPONENT 5: Adaptation to climate change

Component 5 ‘Adaptation to climate change’ of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan aims at increasing the resilience of both ecosystems and human settlements to the negative effects of climate change through reforms of the water management system, land management, nature protection and biodiversity, the implementation of green elements in the landscape and investments in waterproofing, and the development of green infrastructure, including planting.

The component includes two reforms and one investment.

The objectives of this component are consistent with and forms part of the National Strategy for Environment Policy to 2030, the Strategy for the adaptation of the Slovak Republic to climate change, the Vision and Development Strategy of Slovakia to 2030 – the long-term sustainable development strategy of the Slovak Republic – Slovakia 2030, as well as the strategies and long-term objectives of the European Union, in particular the European Green Deal.

Reform 2 shall contribute to addressing the Country Specific Recommendation conveyed to Slovakia in 2024, on the need to “strenghten [...] the conservation of natural resources by mainstreaming nature-based solutions and finalising the zonation of nature-protected areas” (Country Specific Recommendation 3/2024).

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform 1 on landscape planning.

The reform shall provide a basis for safeguarding landscape structures, ecological stability and biodiversity in land-use planning documentation and subsequent approval processes for the authorisation of buildings and activities. Together with the subsequent methodological documents and maps, the act shall provide the technical basis for land-use planning documentation and subsequent approval processes for the authorisation of buildings and activities. This shall have a significant impact on the maintenance of landscape structures, ecological stability and the protection of biodiversity. Their loss would undermine the capacity of adaptation to climate change.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2023.

Reform 2 Reforming nature conservation and water management in the countryside

The objective of the reform is to improve the status of habitats in protected areas, to guarantee their long-term increasing contribution to landscape protection against climate change and their own resilience to the adverse effects of climate change. By 31 December 2022, an amended Nature and Landscape Protection Act and water legislation shall enter into force. This legislation shall strengthen the institutional protection of nature, it shall minimise conflicts of competence within protected areas, simplify the protection system, integrate the networks of protected areas (national, European and international) and create the conditions for the zoning of national parks. The result shall be a modern system with the primary objective of protecting nature and biodiversity in the territories concerned, ensuring a stable long-term contribution of ecosystems to climate change adaptation and mitigation. At the same time, the reform shall allow watercourses to be revitalised and shall create room for ecological management, restoration of river space and progressive flood protection taking into account nature protection and water retention in the countryside.

The reform also consists of the entry into force and application of decrees establishing seven national parks (Slovenský kras, Velká Fatra, Muránska planina,Malá Fatra, Nízké Tatry, Vysoké Tatry and Poloniny) to ensure that zonations of their respective protected areas are finalised.

Investment 1 on the adaptation of regions to climate change with an emphasis on nature conservation and biodiversity development.

The investment aims at ensuring the long-term sustainable contribution of ecosystems to climate change adaptation and mitigation (flood mitigation, drought prevention) by protecting ecosystems. The investment consists of a realignment of property, limiting logging and developing nature conservation and revitalising watercourses, including wetlands, to ensure water retention in the countryside and its gradual release.

Investment 2 on building forests resilient to climate change.

The objective of this measure is to build resilient forests adapted to climate change impacts. The investment consists of implementing a set of activities dedicated to sustainable forest management.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	5 – Adaptation to climate change – Reform 1: Land planning reform	Milestone	the Land Planning reform	Entry into force of the Land Planning Act by the Parliament				Q4	2023	By 31 December 2023 the Ministry of the Environment shall prepare an act which shall then be approved by the National Council of the Slovak Republic. The act shall be accompanied by 31 December 2023 by the development a methodology for assessing the value of landscape and ecosystems which shall aim at ensuring that climate adaptation considerations are factored in territorial decision-making and building proceedings, promoting the implementation of nature-based flood prevention measures and measures to prevent drought and biodiversity loss.
2	5 – Adapting to climate change – Reform 2: Reforming nature conservation and water management in the countryside	Milestone	More effective application of nature protection measures in landscapes in protected areas and the revitalization of watercourses	Entry into force of the amended Nature and Landscape Protection Act and water legislation				Q4	2022	The Ministry of the Environment shall prepare an amendment to the Nature Protection Act, which shall come into force in January 2022 This shall be followed by the development of a proposal for a new model for the functioning of protected areas (by 31 December 2022).The water management reform in the country shall pave the way for the revitalization of watercourses, thus increasing flood protection in the country. The Ministry of the Environment shall draw up a new water policy concept by 31 December 2022 and amend the Water Act by 31 December 2022 setting up technical standards which shall allow watercourses to be revitalised in a way that shall maximize water retention in the country, slowing off water outflows and restoring groundwater reserves.
4	5 – Adapting to climate change – Investment 1: Adapting regions to climate change, focusing on nature conservation and biodiversity development	Target	Revitalisation of watercourses (in Km of revitalised watercourses)	Km of revitalised watercourses	Number	0	90	Q2	2026	Revitalisation passports shall be provided for at least 90 Km of watercourses including wetlands.
5	6 – Adapting to climate change – Investment 1: Adapting regions to climate change, focusing on nature conservation and biodiversity development	Target	Property settlement with private landowners (in Area of land settled in ha)		Number	0	32.82	Q4	2023	Property settlements for an area of 32.82 ha in nature-protected areas shall be reached. By 30 June 2022, a working group at the Ministry of the Environment shall draw up a methodology for determining the value and price of land. Calls for land purchase in protected areas, primarily in national parks, shall be launched for selected areas on a rolling basis until 31 December 2023
7	6 – Adapting to climate change – Investment 1: Adapting regions to climate change, focusing on nature conservation and biodiversity development	Target	List of selected projects for the regions of Muránska Planina and Polonina		Number	0	2	Q2	2022	The Steering Board shall select projects for two regions of Muránska Planina and Polonina in accordance with the DNSH principle on the basis of an open discussion with relevant local actors.
8	5 – Adaptation to climate change – Reform 2: Reforming nature conservation and water management in the countryside	Milestone	Zonation process of national parks	Entry into force and application of Government decrees establishing national parks, their zones and protected areas				Q1	2026	The Government shall finalise the process of zonation by adopting decrees establishing the following national parks, their zones and their respective protected areas: I.Slovenský kras, II.Velká Fatra, III.Muránska planina, IV.Malá Fatra, V.Nízké Tatry, VI.Vysoké Tatry, and VII.Poloniny. The respective Government decrees shall ensure that: i) the areas with primary forests and old-growth forests within the national parks are covered by zone A of the 5th level of protection as per Articles 16 and 30 of Act No. 543/2002 Coll. on nature protection, and ii) they are in accordance with the already approved Conservation Programme of Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus Linnaeus, 1758) for the years 2025 – 2029 adopted on 20 January 2025. This shall result in zone A of the 5th level of protection, as per Articles 16 and 30 of Act No. 543/2002 Coll. on nature protection, being imposed in the areas identified as requiring non-intervention in the Conservation Programme.
9	Investment 2: Building forests resilient to climate change	Target	Sustainable reforestation activities	Land area with implemented measures of sustainable forest management	ha	0	31 069	Q2	2026	The activities supported shall be implemented on forest land only. The following areas shall be excluded: ·Natura 2000; ·4th and 5th level of protected areas based on Slovak legislation; ·areas with registered presence of Western Capercaillie species. An acceptance protocol shall be issued, demonstrating that the measures of sustainable forest management were implemented on an area of 31 069 ha, and it included the following activities : ·Artificial forest regeneration of 1 972 ha; ·Reinforcing natural regeneration of forest of 188 ha; ·Protection of young forest coverage of 15 421 ha; ·Tending young forest stands to ensure species and spatial composition of at least 9 166 ha; ·First thinning up to 50 years of maximum 4 322 ha. A report by an independent expert shall be issued, confirming that: ·the activities supported were implemented on forest land only, and that Natura 2 000, areas in 4th and 5th level of protection, and areas with registered presence of Western Capercaillie were excluded. ·the activities contributed to building a multispecies and multigenerational forest, with regard to the spatial composition and managed according to continuous cover forestry approach, ·For reforestation, only native tree species were planted or those that are adapted to the projected climatic and pedo-hydrological conditions.

COMPONENT 6: Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education

The objective of the Component is to improve accessibility and inclusiveness of mainstream pre-school and school education in Slovakia. The Component will improve access to pre-primary education by ensuring that children aged 5 years old shall have place in the pre-school system and by introducing the legal entitlement to pre-primary education for 4- and 3-year olds. The Component is to reform the financing system for pre-school education and to introduce the system of inclusive educational support measures. The component may contribute to reduce the early-school leaving by fostering the school counselling and advisory system at lower secondary level, and to improve the inclusion also of Roma children by curbing segregation at schools. The component shall level off the deficiencies in the educational outcomes due to the pandemic and help children with special educational needs by more targeted support measures.

The Component shall contribute to addressing the Country Specific Recommendations addressed to Slovakia in the past two years, on the need to improve the quality and inclusiveness of education at all levels and foster skills. Enhance access to affordable and quality childcare and long-term care. Promote integration of disadvantaged groups, in particular Roma. (Country Specific Recommendation 2/2019).

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform 1: Providing conditions for the implementation of compulsory pre-primary education for children from the age of 5 and introducing a legal entitlement to a place in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers from the age of 3.

The objective of this reform is to fulfil the preconditions for implementing compulsory pre-primary education for 5-year-old children and a legal entitlement to a place in pre-primary education for 3- and 4-year-old children. This measure consists in the amendment of legislation and the creation of capacity in kindergartens.

Reform 2: The definition of the concept of special educational needs of children and pupils and the development of a model for eligible support measures in education, including their funding system. The objective of this reform is to support pupils with special educational needs. This measure consists in the amendment of legislation, the introduction of support measures and the provision of training.

Reform 3: Reforming the system of counselling and prevention and ensuring systematic data collection in the field of mental health promotion for children, pupils and students. The objective of the reform is to shift the newly-created Advisory and Prevention Centres (CPP) to operate closer to schools. By amending respective legal acts, these centres shall provide professional activities without defining health disadvantage, as it is currently the case, which causes discrimination. A change in the advisory system shall be accompanied by further support measures such as: change in funding setting up on the basis of the professional activities.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 March 2023.

Reform 4: Adapt F-type study programmes.

The objective of this reform is to introduce the option to attain the level of lower secondary education in lower secondary vocational education programmes, so called “F-programmes”. This measure consists in the amendment of legislation and the adaptation of the list of F-programmes offered.

Reform 5: Promoting school desegregation.

The objective of this reform is to introduce a legal definition of segregation at schools. This measure consists in the amendment of legislation and the establishment of methodological material and desegregation standards.

Reform 6: Compensatory measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in education for primary and secondary school pupils.

The reform establishes a tuition programme mainly for pupils who had limited opportunities to participate in education during the pandemic. The tuition programme is organised by the participating pupils’ schools and focuses in particular on subjects from so-called “main educational fields”. The selection of pupils as well as communication with pupils’ legal representatives are responsibilities assigned to the school.

In order to address the problem of the lack of comprehensive data on the course of distance learning, Ministry of Education shall launch a call for carrying out extensive pedagogical research to analyse the impact of the pandemic on education and their implications for education policies.

The implementation of the reform is expected to start by 30 September 2021 and shall be completed by 31 December 2024.

Investment 1: Removing barriers in school buildings.

The objective of this investment is to remove architectural barriers in 135 secondary schools. This measure consists in the establishment of a manual and the removal of barriers at 135 secondary schools.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education – Reform 1:1.Ensuring conditions for the implementation of compulsory pre-primary education for children aged of five and introducing a legal entitlement to a place in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers from the age of three	Milestone	Introduction of legal changes of a compulsory pre-primary education for children aged of five and introduction a legal entitlement to a place in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers from the age of three.	Adoption by the Parliament of , Act No 596/2003, Act No 245/2008, Act No 138/2019, amendment of Government Coll., amendment of Decree No 1/2020.				Q2	2023	The relevant provisions of Act No 596/2003 on State administration in education and school self-government shall enhance the transparency of funding for pre-primary education before the new prescriptive funding system is introduced. Act No 245/2008 shall introduce a universal legal entitlement to a place in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers for children from four years of age and subsequently from the age of three. The legislation shall be adopted by 30 June 2023, with effect from 1.1.2024, and 1.1.2025 and shall provide the sufficient places in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers for all children from the age of 4 (from 09/2024) and subsequently from the age of three (from 09/2025). The amendment to Act No 138/2019 on pedagogical and professional employees and the amendment to Decree No 1/2020 Coll. on qualification requirements for teaching staff and specialist staff shall introduce the condition that pedagogical staff in kindergartens or other pre-primary education providers as a teacher have a higher education degree in the teaching programme for early and pre-primary education if they teach children for whom pre-primary education is compulsory. In addition, the regulation shall introduce the condition that each kindergarten or other pre-primary education provider shall have at least one staff member with a higher education degree in the teaching programme for early and pre-primary education who is responsible for overseeing the pedagogical quality. The amendment shall be adopted by 30 June 2023 at the latest, with a date of application from 1.1.2029.
2	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education– Reform 1:1.Ensuring conditions for the implementation of compulsory pre-primary education for children aged of five and introducing a legal entitlement to a place in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers from the age of three	Target	Enrollment rate in pre-primary schools for children aged 5 years		%	88	95	Q3	2022	For children who are 5 years old, pre-primary education shall be compulsory. Under the amendment to the School Act, they shall receive pre-primary education:(i) in kindergarten/special kindergarten included in the Slovak network of schools and schools, (ii) in individual education, e.g. at the request of a legal representative at home, or (iii) at the establishment of a registered pre-primary education provider.
3	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education– Reform 1:1.Providing conditions for the implementation of compulsory pre-primary education for children from the age of 5 and introducing a legal entitlement to a place in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers from the age of 3	Target	Number of kindergartens constructed or reconstructed		Number	0	220	Q2	2026	220 kindergartens shall be either newly constructed or reconstructed.
4	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education– Reform 2:Definition of the concept of special educational needs of children and pupils and development of a model for eligible support measures in education and education, including their funding system	Milestone	Adoption of the law on redefinition of the concept of special educational needs and the preparation of accompanying methodological material for teaching staff, specialist staff and school leaders.	Adoption of the Parliament of the amendment to Act No 245/2008 Coll., Act No 597/2003 Coll.; Amendment of Government Regulation No 630/2008 and Adoption by the government development of methodological material on the vertical model of support measures, didactic and methodological material for teaching Slovak as a second language and the introduction of support for children with different mother tongues in education				Q4	2022	The amendment to Act No 245/2008 on education (together with a separate new Decree) and the amendment to Act No 597/2003 on the financing of primary schools, secondary schools and educational establishments define children and pupils experiencing obstacles to access to education and their entitlement to education support through specific support measures. Slovak Government Regulation No 630/2008 shall be adapted, which takes into account different specificities when calculating the normative contribution by means of coefficients. The reform requires the preparation of accompanying methodological material. At the same time, methodological sheets for teachers and worksheets for pupils, aimed at developing the language competences of children and pupils with different mother tongues than the school’s language of instruction, shall be developed for different levels of language competences and different age groups. Methodological and didactic materials shall be published on a separate web portal and shall be freely accessible to all relevant educational actors.
5	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education– Reform 2:Definition of the concept of special educational needs of children and pupils and development of a model for eligible support measures in education and education, including their funding system	Milestone	Entry into force the redefinition of the concept of special educational needs	Entry into force of the amendment to Act No 245/2008 Coll., Act No 597/2003 Coll.;				Q1	2023	The amendment to Act No 245/2008 on education (together with a separate new Decree) define children and pupils experiencing obstacles to access to education and their entitlement to education support through specific support measures shall enter into force by 31 March 2023.
6	6– Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education– Reform 2:The definition of the concept of special educational needs of children and pupils and development of a model for eligible support measures in education, including their funding system	Target	Number of persons trained who are either a teacher or education specialist		Number	0	10 000	Q4	2025	10 000 unique persons working in the education sector shall finish at least one training programme.
7	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education– Reform 3:Reforming the system of counselling and prevention and ensuring systemic data collection in the field of mental health promotion for children, pupils and students	Milestone	Entry into force of the legislation that create the comprehensive system of counselling	Entry into force of the amendment to Act No. 245/2008 Coll. and separate Decrees, probable amendment and Government Regulation No 630/2008 Coll.				Q1	2023	The amendment to Act No 245/2008 on education and training (together with a separate new decree) shall replace the current concept of an advisory system with an interconnected system focusing on accessibility, complexity and compliance with content and performance standards. A comprehensive system of counselling and prevention shall consist of the newly created Advisory and Prevention Centres (CPP), which shall provide professional activities without defining a focus on target groups according to health disadvantage, as is currently the case, i.e. so that the possibility of visiting the centre of counselling and prevention is not determined on the basis of the child’s health disadvantage. Professional activities shall be provided in close cooperation between support teams in schools and schools, including a multidisciplinary team. This creates conditions for intensive, timely and high-quality support, assistance and intervention for children, pupils, students, legal representatives, institutional representatives and other counterparts. The change in funding shall consist of setting the contribution on the basis of the professional activities carried out. In the context of the change in funding, Government Regulation No 630/2008 laying down the details of the breakdown of funds from the state budget for schools and educational establishments may also need to be amended.
8	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education – Reform 4:Implementation of tools to prevent early school leaving and adapt F-type study programmes	Milestone	Entry into force of legislative amendments aimed at: Extension of the possibility to acquire lower secondary education in lower secondary vocational education (VET) optimisation of NSOV programmes in response to labour market needs and the offer of NSOV programmes in relation to the educational needs of the target group of pupils	Entry into force of the amendment to Act No 245/2008, Act No 61/2015 and modification of Decree No 292/2019.Z. z.				Q1	2023	The amendment to Act No 245/2008 on education and training (School Act) shall provide for the possibility of completing lower secondary education in lower secondary vocational education (NSOV) in a two- and three-year combined programme (depending on the year in which the pupil completed the primary school) by means of a comitology examination. The aim is to remove the so-called “dead ends” within the education system and to enable NSOV pupils to complete the lower-secondary education as part of one programme that is more efficient. There is a greater coverage of the system in relation to vulnerable groups. The education offer shall be adapted to labour market needs. The amendment to Act No 61/2015 on vocational education and training shall extend the obligation to determine secondary school performance plans to lower secondary vocational education. Decree No 292/2019 shall be amended which shall set up the performance planning system for F-type study programme by defining specific criteria. These shall take into account the specificities of F-type study programme, such as criteria at school level (benefits, attendance, rate of completion of primary school) and at trade union level – labour market outcomes of “F graduates”.
9	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education– Reform 4: Adapt F-type study programmes	Milestone	F-programmes adapted	Entry into force of the amendment to Decree No. 287/2022.				Q2	2025	The list of F- programmes shall be adapted after requesting input from professional organisations.
10	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education– Reform 5:Supporting school desegregation	Milestone	Adoption of legislative amendments that introduce of the definition of segregation at schools in the legislation and the development of methodological material for the implementation of desegregation	Adoption by the Parliament of an amendment to Act No 245/2008 or to Act No 365/2004 and the creation and approval by the Ministry of Education of methodological material				Q3	2023	Amendments to the legislation shall concern the Anti-discrimination Act (No 365/2004 Coll.) or the School Act (No 245/2008 Coll.) and other legislation related to the financing and management of schools. The definition of segregation clearly determines what acts and omissions are considered to be segregation in order to avoid different interpretations in interpretation. The methodological materials shall provide guidance on preventing and eliminating segregated education for the various educational actors (such as creators, schools and school facilities, directors and teachers) in practice.
12	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education– Reform 5:Promoting school desegregation	Milestone	Introduction of desegregation standards	Creation of desegregation standards and entry into force of the amendment to Act No. 245/2008				Q4	2025	Desegregation standards and a manual shall be established which shall contain guidance on the updating of school regulations to prevent and eliminate segregation. All elementary and secondary schools shall be legally required to incorporate the desegregation standards in their school regulation.
13	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education– Reform 6:Compensatory measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in education for primary and secondary school pupils	Target	Number of schools taking part in tuition programmes		Number	0	450	Q4	2022	450 schools organise tuition programmes. By reaching this number of schools, 12 000 pupils shall be supported by tuition programmes. As a priority, the tuition programmes shall target those pupils who were not able to fully participate in education during the period of interrupted attendance education in schools in the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 school years. Tuition shall take place in individual or group form and in addition to regular school hours. It shall focus in particular on subjects from so-called “main educational fields”.
14	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education– Investment 1: Removing barriers of school buildings	Milestone	Introduction of the definition of debarrierisation standard, creation of a debarrierisation manual and mapping of school needs at all levels of education	Approval by the Ministry of Education of debarrierisation standards, debarrierisation manual and publication of the results of the mapping of needs on the MoE website				Q1	2022	The manual defines debarrierisation standards to meet the real needs of children, pupils and students with health disadvantages and to respect the principles of universal design. It shall be based on a holistic approach that ensures full participation in school life (i.e. defining standards that create an inclusive space throughout the school and do not only focus on removing the biggest barriers e.g. in school entry). In addition to spatial standards (e.g. technical specification for construction works), the manual also defines standards for the debarrierisation of school buildings (such as the cooperation of the school with experts and the community) The Ministry of Education together with Institute for Research on Inclusive Education in Brno shall prepare an analysis of the state of play of debarrierisation in schools in relation to the established standards and, based on it, shall prioritise individual schools for debarrierisation..
15	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education– Investment 1:Removing barriers in school buildings	Target	Elimination of architectural barriers at secondary schools		Number	0	135	Q2	2025	Architectural barriers shall be reduced at 135 secondary schools.
16	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education – Reform 1:1.Ensuring conditions for the implementation of compulsory pre-primary education for children aged of five and introducing a legal entitlement to a place in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers from the age of three	Milestone	Entry into force of new prescriptive funding system for pre-primary education based on the standardised real annual staff and operational costs of kindergartens, as well as the achievement of the enrollment rate of children aged four years.	Adoption by the Parliament of Act No 597/2003, Act No 596/2003, Act 564/2004 Coll, amendment of Government Regulation No 668/2004 Coll., Government Regulation No 630/2008 Coll.				Q1	2025	The relevant provisions of Act 597/2003 Coll. on the financing of primary schools, secondary schools and school facilities, Act No 596/2003 Coll. on state administration in education and school self-government, Act 564/2004 Coll. on the budgeting of income tax revenue of local and regional authorities, the revision of the formula in Government Regulation No 668/2004 as well as the amendment of Government Regulation No 630/2008 shall be amended. A differentiated and transparent system of funding for pre-primary education shall be set up to ensure stability, resilience and the ring-fencing of funds allocated to education. The legislation shall be adopted by 30 June 2024 and enter into force on 1.1.2025. By 30 September 2024, the enrolment rate of children aged 4 years in pre-primary education shall be at least 82%. This shall encompass pre-primary education: (i) in kindergarten/special kindergarten included in the Slovak network of schools, (ii) in individual education, e.g. at the request of a legal representative at home, or (iii) at the establishment of a registered pre-primary education provider.

COMPONENT 7: Education for the 21st century

This component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan shall introduce curricular reform of primary schools (ISCED 1, ISCED 2) creating new learning content organised in multi-annual cycles. The aim is to develop pupils’ critical thinking and soft skills as problem-solving, handling information, working in a team, narrative and asking questions, taking initiative and responsibility, creating and implementing personal projects. This shall require the provision of textbooks necessary to renew the current stock and a change in teachers’ skills to apply these changes in everyday practice. At the same time, the component shall strengthen the quality of skills of teaching and professional staff and motivate them for lifelong professional development. The focus shall also be on inclusive education and the acquisition of digital skills.

The component includes two reforms and two investments.

The Component shall contribute to addressing the Country Specific Recommendation addressed to Slovakia on the need to strengthen digital skills and ensure equal access to quality education. (Country Specific Recommendation 2/2020). Improve the quality and inclusiveness of education at all levels and foster skills (Country Specific Recommendation 2/2019).

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform 1: Reform of the content and form of education . The objective of the reform is to create new learning curricula for primary and lower-secondary education, organised in educational cycles. This measure consists in the approval of the new state primary education programme, which allows for greater flexibility in developing school curricula, in the implementation of 40 regional support centres for schools, and in the provision of new learning materials. This measure also envisages the creation of an online testing environment aimed at digitalising the final test (maturita) on all upper-secondary schools.

Reform 2: Preparing and developing teachers for new content and forms of teaching (change in higher education training) and strengthening the professional development of teachers). The objective of this reform is to strengthen the quality of skills of teaching and professional staff and motivate them for lifelong professional development. A financial allowance shall be introduced to upgrade the teacher’s skills. The focus shall be made on the new curricula, inclusive education and the acquisition of digital skills. By the end of 2023 at least 55% of pedagogical and professional staff shall be trained. The respective legislative amendments shall regulate the competences and the range of teaching providers.

There shall be a grant programme for universities provided to support the emergence of new teaching curricula. This shall include funding for changes in programmes that support the introduction of inclusive education, the education of pupils with different mother tongues from Slovak and the development of digital competences among student teachers.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment 1: Digital infrastructure in schools. The objective of this investment is to increase the percentage of schools with full digital entry and thereby create an environment that supports digital skill development and improves the digital inclusion among disadvantaged pupils. The investment consists in the delivery of digital equipment to 60% of schools.

Investment 2: Completion of the school infrastructure. This investment aims at better integrating pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. This measure consists in the elimination of 35 two-shift schools in Slovakia.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	7 – Education for the 21st century – Reform 1: Education content and form reform	Milestone	New curriculum for all primary schools organized in the multiannual education cycles	Approval of the new state primary education programme by the Minister of Education.				Q1	2023	An integrated curriculum for primary schools (ISCED 1 and ISCED 2) shall be implemented within cycles. Cycles shall define basic learning objectives for areas rather than detailed content, thus creating flexibility to develop curricula at school level. The implementation phase shall start from September 2023 with an obligation to transfer all primary schools to a new curriculum by 09/2026.
2	7 – Education for the 21st century – Reform 1: Education content and form reform	Target	Creation of a network of regional centres of support		Number	0	40	Q3	2024	40 centres of curricular management and support for schools shall be set up at regional level. The centres shall consist of a team of teachers and other specialists providing mentoring or similar supporting activities.
3	7 – Education for the 21st century – Reform 1: Education content and form reform	Milestone	Implementation of the curricular reform and new learning materials to schools					Q4	2025	At least 30% of primary schools shall implement the new curriculum. The Ministry of Education shall procure centrally new learning materials, in line with the new curriculum, or provide schools with an allowance for their purchase. As prescribed in the legislation, the learning materials shall comply with the new curriculum.
4	7 – Education for the 21st century – Reform 1: Education content and form reform – Curricular and textbook reform	Milestone	Introduction of an on-line final exam (maturita) for all upper secondary schools					Q4	2025	The final exam for graduates from all upper secondary schools, where maturita takes place, shall be delivered online.
5	7 – Education for the 21st century – Reform 2: Preparing and developing teachers for new content and form of teaching	Milestone	Entry into force the legislative changes to strengthen the quality of skills of teaching and professional staff and motivate them for lifelong professional development	Entry into force the amendments to Act No 138/2019 on pedagogical and professional employees, Act No 597/2003 Coll., Act No 131/2002 on higher education, and the Decrees No 244/2019 and No 1/2020 of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic on the system of study unions of the Slovak Republic.				Q1	2023	The legislative changes shall bring: ·Introduction of the new study programmes preparing future teachers, ·An allowance to motivate teaching and professional staff to pursue lifelong professional development; ·Regulation of the competences and the range of providers of attestation, functional and qualification education in the education sector. ·New model of accreditation of professional development training programmes.
6	7 – Education for the 21st century – Reform 2: Preparing and developing teachers for new content and form of teaching	Target	Percentage of pedagogical and professional staff trained, especially in preparation for the new curriculum, inclusive education and digital skills		%	0	55	Q4	2023	By 31 of December 2023 at least 55% of pedagogical and professional staff of schools shall be trained.
7	7 – Education for the 21st century – Investment 1: Digital infrastructure in schools	Target	Schools equipped with basic level of digital equipment		%	0	60	Q4	2025	60% of schools shall receive digital equipment. Such equipment shall, depending on the needs of schools, include software, hardware, along with compensatory equipment for disadvantaged pupils and, where possible, one IT classroom in proportion to 300 students.
8	7 – Education for the 21st century – Investment 2: Completion of school infrastructure	Target	Elimination of the double-shift schools		Number	0	35	Q2	2026	There shall be a call to build new premises or make reconstructions of premises in 35 schools that pursue double shifts. At least 4 403 new capacities shall be created. Renovated buildings shall achieve on average at least 30% of primary energy savings.

COMPONENT 8: Improving the performance of Slovak universities

The key objective of this component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan is to improve the quality of performance of Slovak higher education institutions (HEIs). The new form of financing of professional bachelor programmes shall be introduced to better fit the study programmes to the labour market needs. In order to improve the quality of science, a systemic performance evaluation shall be established that support the new accreditation system. The component shall enhance the reform of the universities management by conferring more power to the rector and the board, as well as setting up a scheme that incentivises the mergers of the HEI to reduce administrative costs and create the effect of the positive spill-over in knowledge diffusion among the entities.

The component includes five reforms and one investment.

The Component shall contribute to addressing the Country Specific Recommendations addressed to Slovakia in the past two years, on the need to Improve the quality and inclusiveness of education at all levels and foster skills. (Country Specific Recommendation 2/2019) as well as to ensure equal access to quality education. (Country Specific Recommendation 2/2020).

There is some strong connection to other components especially the ones related to research and innovation (Component 9 and 17), re-skilling and meeting the labour market needs (Component 10).

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform 1: Change in the funding of universities by introduction of performance contracts. A new instrument – performance contracts – shall be introduced to the legal system in order to support the profiling and diversification of universities based on their specific strengths and potential for development. Performance contracts are to be signed by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic (MŠVVaŠ SR) with public universities. On the basis of the agreement of with universities, objectives shall be set which shall be monitored using the U-Multirank approach (unified methodology to carry out the performance evaluation) and shall be based on a long-term objective in the field of universities and country needs.

The implementation of the reform is expected to start by 31 December 2022 and shall be completed by 31 December 2023.

Reform 2: Introduction of a system of periodic scientific performance evaluation. The objective of the reform is to introduce a system of periodic evaluation of the scientific performance of universities. The Ministry prepares, in cooperation with stakeholders, a methodology for assessing scientific performance and introduces it into the legal system. The performance evaluation shall be organized by the ministry, either directly or through an autonomous institution, so that the assessment is based on the principles of independence and transparency. The assessment panel shall consist of domestic and foreign excellent researchers. The evaluation shall be based on high quality assessment systems from abroad, with the British Research Excellence Framework (REF) as the main inspiration and using specific parametric settings adapted to the situation of the Slovak institutions to assess the quality of output within the field.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2022.

Reform 3: A new approach to accreditation of higher education. The objective of the reform is to set out the new standards and criteria for the accreditation of curricula that tighten the conditions for guaranteeing and delivering study programmes, improve their quality and introduce long-term quality monitoring processes. A new system shall require that universities involve students, external stakeholders (in particular employers) in the design, monitoring and adjustment of curricula, and that universities closely monitor student progress and needs, graduate uptake and overall student satisfaction. The Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (SAAVŠ) shall have external supervision of the implementation of these rules. The SAAVŠ shall also use the foreign assessors and practitioners in the assessment of university programmes. It is expected that at least 90% of universities apply to check the compliance of internal quality systems and study programmes with accreditation standards.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2022.

Reform 4: Reform of the governance of universities. The reform via the amendment to the Higher Education Act shall increase the power of rector and the Board of Directors so that it better reflect responsibility and allow greater flexibility within the higher education institution. The reform shall also remove restrictions on the appointment of lecturers and professors (the current requirement for an additional habilitation or inaugural procedure and the degrees of lecturer and professor), thus promoting the openness of the academic environment to both professional and foreign candidates. The recruitment of university management posts (rector, dean of faculty) shall be professionalized and shall take the form of open competitions or public hearings. In addition, the experts shall be able to participate in open competitions for tenures. The Higher Education Act shall remove the condition that staff in positions of professor and lecturer must have a scientific/pedagogical degree.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2021.

Reform 5: Concentration of excellent educational and research capacities. The objective of this reform is to increase cooperation between universities. This measure consists in the establishment of roadmaps and consortia.

Investment 1: Investment support for the strategic development of universities. The objective of this investment is to invest in the infrastructure of universities. This measure consists in reconstructing and renovating the infrastructure of universities.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone/Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	8 – Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions – Reform 1:Change in funding for universities, including the introduction of performance contracts	Milestone	Introduction of performance contracts	Conclusion of the overarching agreement of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic (MŠVVaŠ SR) with universities				Q4	2022	Performance contracts shall support the profiling and diversification of universities based on their strengths, their potential for development, the reduction in the number of curricula, as well as the concentration of resources. Among other things, the aim is to increase the share of professionally oriented bachelor’s programmes of public higher education from 4 % to 10 % to Q4 2025
2	8 – Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions – Reform 1:Change in funding for universities, including the introduction of performance contracts	Target	Performance contracts signed with public universities (in percentage)	N/A	%	0	90	Q4	2023	At least 90% of performance contracts signed.
3	8 – Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions – Reform 2:Introdu-ction of a system of periodic scientific performance evaluation	Milestone	Definition of the system of periodic evaluation of scientific performance introduced in the Law No 172/2005	Entry into force of the Law No 172/2005 for the evaluation of scientific performance and methodology for periodic scientific performance evaluation				Q1	2022	A system of periodic evaluation of the scientific performance of universities, with the participation of international evaluators, shall be set up to ensure the diversification of universities with regard to the quality of their scientific performance in individual fields and the identification of excellent research teams in individual universities. The evaluation shall thus be one-size-fits-all for universities, but also for other research institutions (SAV, other non-business and private research institutions).
4	8 – Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions – Reform 2:Introdu-ction of a system of periodic scientific performance evaluation	Target	Number of Performed evaluations		Number	0	20	Q4	2022	The target refers to the all public universities.
5	8 – Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions – Reform 3:A new approach to accreditation of higher education	Target	Percentage of universities apply to check the compliance of internal quality systems and study programmes with standards		%	0	90	Q4	2022	At least 90% of universities have applied for a verification of the compliance of their internal quality systems and study programmes with new accreditation standards. The new accreditation standards shall tighten standards and conditions for the guarantee and delivery of study programmes. Five academics with high-quality scientific outputs are needed for accreditation, as well as the implementation of a student-centred quality education system. Foreign assessors shall also be routinely involved in assessing compliance with accreditation standards for quality of education. Stricter rules shall lead to a reduction in the number of study programmes, greater diversification and profiling and greater student orientation, as universities shall concentrate on programmes where they may deliver the highest quality of education.
6	8 – Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions – Reform 4:Reform of the management of universities	Milestone	The reform of the management system of higher education institutions	Entry into force of the amendment to Act No 131/2002 on higher education,				Q4	2021	The amendment to Act No 131/2002 on higher education shall reform the management system of universities. The amendment to the Law on Higher Education shall strengthen the competences of the Rector and the Board of Directors, the composition of which shall be reformed, the method of electing the rector shall be changed, the mechanism of functional posts shall be opened up and the requirements for the internal organisation of academia shall be simplified, ensuring school autonomy and freedom of science. The strengthening of the competences of the Board of Directors shall address issues of strategic governance of the University, while the participation of State representatives shall be limited in such a way that the central government shall not be able to take control of the Board of Directors. Academic freedom shall in no way be affected.
7	8 – Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions – Reform 5:Concentra-tion of excellent educational and research capacities	Milestone	Start bringing together of universities into larger units	An approved by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic (MŠVVaŠ SR) bundling road map for at least 2 university units.				Q4	2021	An approved bundling road map for at least 2 university units. The Road Map shall develop the timetable and the various steps leading to the linkage of higher education institutions. The blending process itself shall be supported by investments from the Recovery Fund Facility, as well as performance contracts due to direct transaction costs (such us the unification of IT systems), also to build new infrastructure capacities (such as removing duplications and unifying the sites concerned shall not simply be able to relocate workplaces and new capacities shall need to be built).
8	8 – Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions – Reform 5:Concentra-tion of excellent educational and research capacities	Milestone	Bringing together universities through consortia	Establishment of at least 2 consortia, a roadmap and a signed contract between the Ministry and the university for the establishment of the consortium linked to the latter roadmap.				Q2	2026	At least 2 consortia established as confirmed by the new statute of each consortium. Each statute shall cover the following criteria for each consortium: ·harmonisation of internal quality systems on the basis of commonly defined procedures and areas, ·creation of at least 5 joint study programmes where at least one is established in a field of study in which one or more of the universities which offer the joint programme show above-average performance in the scientific performance evaluation system. ·introduction of flexible study paths to enable students to take courses at each university of the consortium. ·research units are brought together to conduct joint research projects. ·sharing of premises and subject-specific classrooms, and for universities that have these, laboratories, ·integration of library, publishing and IT systems. Establishment of a roadmap for a third consortium and a signed contract between the Ministry and the university for the establishment of this consortium.
9	8 – Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions –Investment 1: support for the strategic development of universities	Milestone	At least 2 calls concluded for supporting the strategic development of universities	Award of the contracts following the calls				Q3	2023	2 calls to support the strategic development of universities as described in the reform 5 shall provide : a) The sub-programme for university development shall support infrastructure projects for the development of research, education and accommodation infrastructure with high added value for excellent research and internationalisation: for example, upgrading existing or new spaces for the concentration of excellent research and doctoral studies, including foreign researchers, upgrading existing or new spaces for practical teaching in professional bachelor courses, upgrading existing or new premises for indoor facilities, debarrierisation and modern digitisation of buildings b) The programme for university development shall support project management and induced investment by bringing together universities. Once the Roadmap has been approved, and depending on its feasibility and ambition, as well as justifying the necessary investments and ensuring their continued sustainability, it shall include an investment plan linked to the process of bringing together university units.
10	8 – Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions – Investment 1: support for the strategic development of universities	Target	Reconstru-cted or rennovated university area and dormitory		Number	0	126 826	Q2	2026	126 826 m2 shall be reconstructed or renovated. Buildings subjected to renovation shall contribute to the green transition by achieving at least on average 30% of primary energy savings.

COMPONENT 9: More efficient management and strengthening of R & D & I funding

This component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan addresses important structural bottlenecks in the Slovak research, development and innovation (RDI) ecosystem, such as fragmentation of the RDI governance, insufficient private-academia cooperation, internationalisation and RDI funding. The longer term objective is to stimulate private participation in RDI through an increase in private R&D expenditure.

The component aims at strengthening RDI performance and innovation potential, which are a necessary prerequisite for competitive and sustainable economic growth. The proposed measures are focused on enhancing the RDI governance, overarching coordination, impact and effectiveness of RDI investment as well as fostering public-private cooperation and private investment. The measures support research excellence and internationalisation, as well as the attraction and retention of talent in science and innovation. The objective of investment schemes is to generate new RDI projects in key sectors of the economy with transformative potential to support the creation of higher added value jobs and to stimulate the growth of the innovation ecosystem at the national and regional level.

The component is composed of 2 reforms and 6 investments, which are closely interlinked. The RDI reforms are designed to be a prerequisite for efficient and effective absorption of investment.

All investment schemes shall comply with DNSH principles requiring technology neutral investment at the level of applications and excluding potentially damaging areas such as fossil fuels, including downstream use. Launch of all competitive calls for proposals shall include eligibility criteria that ensure that selected projects comply with the DNSH principles through the use of an exclusion list and the requirement of compliance with the relevant EU and national environmental legislation.

The investments and reforms shall contribute to the Country Specific Recommendations addressed to Slovakia in the past two years, on the need to “focus investment-related policy on research and innovation” (Country Specific Recommendations 2/2019), to “focus investment on the green and digital transition” (Country Specific Recommendation3/2020) and to “enhance coordination and policy making” (Country Specific Recommendations 4/2020).

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform 1: Reform of governance, evaluation and support in science, research and innovation.

The reform focuses on the amendment of the RDI relevant legislation, which shall enhance the RDI governance structure, strengthen and professionalise inter-ministerial coordination of RDI policies. The new governance structure shall be made up of the Slovak Government, the Government Council for Science, Technology and Innovation and the Secretariat created under the Government Office. The reform shall be based on 5 pillars: i) strong over-government strategy and coordination, ii) effective cross-cutting standards for support instruments, iii) consolidation of grant agencies and building up their expertise, iv) application of principles of good governance and efficiency and v) unified system of institutional assessment and institutional RDI funding.

The revision of the legislation (Act No 172/2005) shall be proposed by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport and shall enter into force by 31 March 2022. The reform includes the adoption of a new National Strategy for RDI to provide a strategic policy direction, objectives and tools to apply to all types of public support, including national and EU funds in a consistent and complementary way. The government shall adopt the Strategy by 30 September 2022. In order to minimise inefficiencies, the principles of good governance and efficient funding shall be translated into a methodology to apply ex-ante into RDI investments. The new RDI strategy and measures shall take into account the revised Smart Specialisation Strategy to foster thematic concentration as well as recommendations of recent studies such as OECD to improve RDI investment implementation and “lessons learnt” from the Cohesion policy programming periods. The evaluation process shall be reformed to increase the use of panel and foreign evaluators and administrative processes shall be gradually streamlined.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 September 2022.

Reform 2: Reform of the organisation and funding of research institutions, in particular the Slovak Academy of Science.

The reform aims at completing the transformation of the Slovak Academy of Science (SAS) into a public organisation to enable stimulating multi-source funding and cooperation with the private sector. The reform shall be enabled by a revision of the two legislative acts (Act No 133/2002 on SAS and Act No 243/2017 on the public research institutions) proposed by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport. It shall allow the SAS entering into business and property relations related to RDI with full protection of intellectual property rights and financial gains.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2021.

Investment 1: Promoting international cooperation and participation in Horizon Europe and EIT projects.

The objective of this measure is to enable greater participation of Slovak institutions, researchers and companies in cutting edge projects of the European Research Area (ERA).

The measure consists in grant support to preparation of Horizon Europe applications, high quality projects, which receive a very high score in ERA programmes but are left with no funding or high quality projects through “Matching grants” to leverage resources generated under Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe.

Investment 2: Supporting cooperation between companies, academia and R & D organisations.

The objective of the investment is to increase private participation in RDI and increase the share of innovative businesses in the economy.

This measure consists in grant support through various schemes: ‘matching grants’, ‘voucher’ support schemes and support for the creation of ‘transformative and innovative consortia’.

Investment 3: Excellent science.

The objective of the investment is to create an internationally competitive environment for the best scientists in terms of salaries and availability of attractive research schemes.

This measure consists in granting support to excellent researchers.

Investment 4: Research and innovation to decarbonise the economy.

The objective of the investment is to improve synergies in ‘green’ RDI topics between the national and EU level.

The measure consists of grant support to projects supporting the green transition and resilience and adaptation to climate change, in line with the thematic priorities of Horizon Europe, such as for example carbon free energy, electrification, hydrogen, battery technologies and alternative fuels, low emission industrial processes and materials and bio-economy. The support aims at the entire research and innovation cycle (Technology readiness level 1-9).

Investment 5: Research and innovation for the digitalisation of the economy.

The objective of the investment is to improve synergies in ‘digital’ RDI topics between the national and EU level.

The measure consists of grant support and/or support via financial instruments to projects supporting the digitalisation of the economy, in line with the thematic priorities of Horizon Europe, such as for example digital and industrial technologies, internet of things, artificial intelligence and robotics. The support aims at the entire research and innovation cycle (Technology readiness level 1-9).

Investment 6: Financial instruments to support innovation.

The objective of the investment is to considerably increase the share of innovative businesses and invest in companies with significant technological and innovative potential.

The measure consists of the set-up of intermediated financial instruments to invest in early stage (seed phase) as well as growth phase companies.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone/Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Reform 1: Reform of governance, evaluation and support in science, research and innovation	Milestone	Reform of the governance and support for research, development and innovation.	Entry into force of the Amendment to Law 172/2005				Q1	2022	The amendment to the Act shall strengthen the coordinating role of the new governance structure for research, development and innovation (such as defining the role of the Slovak Government’s Council for Science, Technology and Innovation and its Secretariat placed under the Government Office). The law shall regulate different types of public support to ensure coordination and consistency of public interventions. It shall allow the gradual integration of processes and expert evaluation of RD projects, the simplification and standardisation of RD project evaluation processes by agencies
2	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Reform 1: Reform of governance, evaluation and support in science, research and innovation	Milestone	Design of the National overarching RDI Strategy	Adoption of the National RDI Strategy by the government				Q3	2022	The Government shall approve the National Strategy for the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) to become an overarching document for all public funding of RDI by 2030. It shall reflect on past experiences and offer the horizontal framework to integrate existing strategies (such as Smart Specialisation Strategy). It shall provide a strategic framework and direction for RDI policy, define objectives and measures to achieve them.
3	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Reform 2: Reform of the organisation and funding of non-business research institutions, in particular the Slovak Academy of Sciences	Milestone	Reform of the Slovak Academy of Science (SaS)	Entry into force of an amendment to Act No 133/2002 on SAS and an amendment to Act No 243/2017 on the public research institution				Q4	2021	Entry into force of amendments to the Acts, which shall transform the Slovak Academy of Science (SAS) into a public institution allowing multi-source financing, including from the private sector while ensuring full protection of intellectual property and financial profitability.
4	9– More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 1: Promoting international cooperation and participation in Horizon Europe and EIT projects	Milestone	Launch of calls for projects to support the participation of Slovak actors in Horizon Europe	Launch of calls for projects to support the participation of Slovak actors in Horizon Europe			3	Q4	2022	At least three calls for projects shall be launched to support the participation of Slovak actors in Horizon Europe programme under the following schemes: • Scheme to support the preparation of applications for Horizon Europe • Scheme to support projects that have obtained a Seal of excellence or a high score • "Matching grants" for successful projects in H2020/Horizon Europe
5	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 1: Promoting international cooperation and participation in Horizon Europe and EIT projects	Target	Number of projects aimed at increasing participation in Horizon Europe calls		Number of projects	0	765	Q1	2026	Of the overall objective of 770 projects, grant awards to at least 765 projects under the calls aiming at increasing participation in the Horizon Europe programme.
6	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 2: Support for cooperation between firms, academia and RD organisations	Milestone	Launch of calls for projects to support cooperation between companies, academia and R & D organisations and vouchers	Launch of calls for projects support cooperation between firms, academia and R & D organisations and vouchers			4	Q4	2022	At least four calls for projects shall be launched in compliance with the DNSH principle to support cooperation between companies, academia and R&D organisations and to support vouchers schemes: • “Matching” grants to research institutions to leverage resources from the private sector in the framework of research collaboration. • establishing "transformative and innovative" consortia • Voucher support schemes, which include innovation vouchers and digital vouchers.
7	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 2: Support for cooperation between firms, academia and RD organisations	Target	Number of collaborative projects and vouchers		Number of projects	0	3 538	Q4	2024	Of the overall objective of 3 931 projects, grant awards to at least 3 538 cooperation projects between companies, academia and R&D organisations and vouchers. The investment is expected to result in: • Establishing at least 2 “transformative and innovative” consortia •2 760 collaborative projects under matching grants •450 innovative and 720 digital vouchers
8	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 2: Support for cooperation between firms, academia and RD organisations	Milestone	Implementation of calls for projects to support cooperation between firms, academia and RD organisations and vouchers	Approval of Government Council for science, technology and innovation.				Q1	2026	An interim summary report shall be approved by the Government Council for science, technology and innovation. That report shall examine the contribution of the completed and ongoing projects under the calls towards the objectives of Component 9.
9	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 3: Excellent science	Milestone	Launch of calls to support excellent researchers	Launch of calls for projects to support excellent researchers			6	Q4	2022	At least six calls for projects shall be launched to support excellent researchers in compliance with the DNSH principle under the following schemes: • fellowships for first stage researchers – R1 • fellowships for recognised researchers – R2 • fellowships for established researchers – R3 • fellowships for leading researchers - R4 • Large projects for excellent researchers • “Early stage” research grants • Capital booster for existing R&D support schemes
10	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 3: Excellent science	Target	Number of excellent researchers supported		Number of researchers	0	650	Q1	2024	Of the overall objective to support 715 researchers, at least 650 excellent researchers, are supported under the calls. The investment is expected to result in: • Selection of 15 large grants to excellent researcher teams Support of: • 425 fellowships for researchers at different career stages (R1-R4) • 200 “Early stage” research grants for young researchers • 90 projects under capital booster
11	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 3: Excellent science	Milestone	Implementation of calls to support excellent researchers	Approval of Government Council for science, technology and innovation				Q1	2026	An interim summary report shall be approved by the Government Council for science, technology and innovation. That report shall examine the contribution of the completed and ongoing projects under the calls towards the objectives of Component 9.
12	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 4: Research and innovation to decarbonise the economy	Milestone	Launch of calls for thematic demand-driven projects addressing the challenges of green transition	Launch of calls for thematic demand-driven projects addressing the challenges of green transition			2	Q4	2022	At least two thematic calls for demand-driven projects shall be launched in compliance with the DNSH principle addressing the challenges of green transition, de-carbonisation as well as resilience and adaptation to climate change. Support shall be directed towards topics that are foreseen in the thematic priorities of Horizon Europe, such as: • Carbon-free energy • electrification • Hydrogen, battery technologies and alternative fuels • Low-emission industrial processes and materials • Bio-economy, sustainable agriculture and forestry. Calls for projects shall cumulatively cover the whole research and innovation cycle (technology readiness levels1-9)
13	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 4: Research and innovation to decarbonise the economy	Target	Number of selected projects addressing the challenges of the green transition		Number of projects	0	27	Q4	2024	Of the overall objective of 30 projects, grant awards to to at least 27 projects, under the calls addressing the challenges of the green transition and decarbonisation
14	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 4: Research and innovation to decarbonise the economy	Milestone	Implementation of calls for thematic demand-driven projects addressing the challenges of green transition	Approval of Government Council for science, technology and innovation.				Q1	2026	An interim summary report shall be approved by the Government Council for science, technology and innovation. That report shall examine the contribution of the completed and ongoing projects under the calls towards the objectives of Component 9.
15	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 5: Research and innovation for the digitalisation of the economy	Milestone	Launch of calls for thematic demand-driven projects addressing the challenges of digital transition	Launch of calls for thematic demand-driven projects addressing the challenges of digital transition			2	Q4	2022	At least two thematic schemes (such as demand-driven calls and/or financial instruments) for projects shall be launched in compliance with the DNSH principle addressing the challenges of digital transformation and helping meet the EC’s ambitions for digital autonomy. Support shall be directed towards topics in line with the thematic priorities of Horizon Europe, such as: • Key digital technologies (such as cybersecurity; quantum technologies for cybersecurity, sensors and the Internet of Things; microelectronics and electronic components and cloud solutions) • Artificial intelligence and robotics Schemes for projects shall cumulatively cover the whole research and innovation cycle (technology readiness level 1-9).
16	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 5: Research and innovation for the digitalisation of the economy	Target	Number of RDI projects selected under the calls addressing the challenges of digital transformation.		Number of projects	0	140	Q4	2024	Of the overall objective of 155 projects, grant/loan awards to at least 140 projects under the thematic schemes (such as demand-driven calls and/or financial instruments) for thematic projects addressing digital transformation challenges.
17	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 5: Research and innovation for the digitalisation of the economy	Milestone	Implementation of calls for for thematic demand-driven projects addressing the challenges of digital transition	Approval of Government Council for science, technology and innovation.				Q1	2026	An interim summary report shall be approved by the Government Council for science, technology and innovation. That report shall examine the contribution of the completed and ongoing projects under the calls towards the objectives of Component 9.
18	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 6: Financial instruments to support innovation	Milestone	Launch and implementation of financial instruments to support innovation	Launch of the investment phase of financial instruments to support innovation in line with the investment strategy			2	Q4	2023	At least two financial instruments shall be launched in the investment phase in line with an investment strategy/contractual agreement, which comply with “Do no significant harm” Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01) principles requiring exclusion criteria of the investment and compliance with the relevant EU and national environmental legislation. DNSH aspects shall be properly reflected in the contractual agreement between Slovak authorities and the implementing partners/financial intermediaries. The financial instruments shall support innovation in enterprises and include the following schemes: • Capital input early in business lifecycle • Capital input to growth stage companies
19	9 – More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding – Investment 6: Financial instruments to support innovation	Target	Number of companies supported through financial instruments		Number of companies	0	36	Q2	2026	Of the overall objective to support 40 companies, at least 36 companies, are supported by financial instruments in the form of capital inputs.

COMPONENT 10: Attracting and retaining talents

The objective of this component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan is to develop effective policies to promote student and labour mobility, actively motivate highly qualified foreign experts (including Slovak nationals), students and entrepreneurs to establish themselves in Slovakia. The aim of these measures is the need to attract and retain human capital essential for Slovakia’s economic development. The authorities’ ambition is to increase, over a five-year horizon, the share of highly qualified foreign nationals in the workforce from 0.5% to 1% and to level the balance of outgoing and incoming students to Slovak higher education institutions.

Measures in this component shall contribute to addressing Country-Specific Recommendations to Slovakia, in particular as regards “improving the quality and inclusiveness of education at all levels and promoting skills” and “promoting the integration of disadvantaged groups” (Country-Specific Recommendation 2, 2019), as well as “resilience of the health system in the areas of health workforce” (Country-Specific Recommendation 1, 2020).

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform 1: Reform of residence and labour legislation

Applicable work and residence permit procedures in Slovakia are in general demanding for both the worker and the company and tend to be lengthy. The aim of this reform is to shorten and significantly simplify these procedures for highly qualified third-country nationals, including their family members.

The reform shall use the existing fast-track scheme for national visa (D) in the interest of the country, opening it up to a new category of highly qualified third-country nationals seeking employment. This category of workers shall be exempted from the need to prove having a guaranteed job before entering the country and shall be allowed to start working on a national visa (D) immediately after finding a job. Compatibility with the revision of the Blue Card Directive shall be ensured.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 March 2022.

Reform 2: Simplification of the regime for the recognition of qualifications and professional qualifications for the exercise of regulated professions

This reform shall simplify the recognition of educational qualifications by foreign workers, in order to facilitate their establishment in Slovakia.

For countries with a bilateral agreement in recognition of qualifications, applicants shall be exempt from providing an attestation of the university’s accreditation to provide the relevant education. In addition, the capacity of the Centre for Recognition of Educational Recognition shall be strengthened to speed up the qualifications recognition process for all countries.

For qualifications of doctors the reform shall:

-reduce the time limits for the recognition of diplomas listed in Annex 3 to the Healthcare Providers Act from three months to one month. Automatic recognition of coordinated specialisations at EU level of doctors and dentists;

-reduce the time limits for the recognition of diplomas not listed in Annex 3 to the Act on healthcare providers issued by competent authorities under the legislation of the Member States from three months to two months;

-reduce the time limits for the recognition of diplomas issued by competent authorities under the laws of third countries from three months to two months. Adjust the time limits for the recognition of diplomas issued in another country from four months to two months;

-extend the institution of temporary traineeships beyond the current crisis period, by amending Article 30a of the Healthcare Providers Act.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 March 2022.

Investment 1: Support tools and assistance for specific target groups

The objective of this measure is to help integrate highly qualified foreign workers, foreign higher education students, Slovaks living abroad and family members of these target groups into Slovak society.

This measure consists in providing consultations or support services for these target groups.

Investment 2: Strengthening relations with the diaspora

The objective of this measure is to strengthen relations with Slovaks abroad, increase the likelihood of their return home and promote brain circulation.

The measure consists in delivering events with Slovaks abroad.

Investment 3: Scholarships for domestic and foreign talented students

The objective of this measure is to financially support domestic and foreign talented students. This measure consists in awarding scholarships for these target groups.

Investment 4: Promoting internationalisation in the academic environment

The objective of this measure is to support internationalisation of higher education institutions or research institutions in Slovakia.

The measure consists in adopting a strategy for the internationalisation of universities, which shall include support to joint university programmes, measures to attract foreign students and academics and implement the principles of the Human Resources Strategy for Research (HRS4R) and support projects aimed at internationalisation of higher education institutions or research institutions.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone/Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	10 – Attracting and retaining talents - Reform 1: Reform of residence and labour legislation	Milestone	Scheme defining a new category of applicants for national visa (D).	Adoption of the scheme through a Government Resolution and entry into force.				Q1	2022	Adoption of a scheme defining the category of applicants for national visa (D) in the interest of the Slovak Republic The new visa category that covers highly qualified third-country nationals seeking employment exempted from the need to prove a guaranteed job before entering Slovakia shall be introduced. The persons shall be able to start working on a national visa (D) immediately. The measure shall concern categories such as graduates from world-leading universities (regardless of the field); third-level graduates of the world’s leading universities and research institutions (regardless of the field); other selected groups according to Slovakia’s economic interests (e.g. IT experts, experts in high value-added sectors, doctors).
2	10 – Attracting and retaining talents - Reform 1: Reform of residence and labour legislation	Milestone	Facilitation of the return to the country and increase of the attractiveness of the country for foreigners with family ties	Adoption by the Parliament and entry into force				Q1	2022	Amendment to Act No 40/1993 on Slovak citizenship that shall facilitate the return to the country and increase the country’s attractiveness for foreigners with family ties to Slovakia. The amendment shall introduce a simplified regime for obtaining citizenship by removing the requirement of a minimum period of residence in Slovakia.
3	10 – Attracting and retaining talents - Reform 2: Simplification of the regime for the recognition of qualifications and professional qualifications for the exercise of regulated professions	Milestone	Simplifica-tion of the recognition of educational and professional qualifications	Adoption by the Parliament and entry into force				Q1	2022	The amendment to Act No 422/2015 on the recognition of evidence of education and the recognition of professional qualifications shall allow: • Facilitating the recognition of diplomas/training documents for countries with which Slovakia has bilateral agreements in the field of recognition of diplomas/training documents, by reducing the required documents from the applicant (e.g. university certificates of competence to provide the relevant education); • Strengthening the competences of the Centre for Recognition of Qualifications (SUDV) for the recognition of documents for the validation of higher education attainment also for countries outside the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) without a bilateral agreement, which shall significantly speed up and simplify the process compared to the current situation where the only eligible institutions are universities to facilitate the recognition of diplomas/documents for countries with which Slovakia has bilateral agreements on the recognition of diplomas/training documents. The amendment to Act No 578/2004 on healthcare providers, health professionals, professional organisations in the health sector shall allow: • shortening the time limit for the recognition of further training documents for highly qualified health professionals; • Extension of the temporary traineeship for doctors beyond the pandemic
4	10 – Attracting and retaining talents - Investment 1: Support tools and assistance for specific target groups	Target	Number of one-stop shops for integration in Slovakia		Number	0	3	Q4	2024	Setting up of three one-stop shops providing services aimed at facilitating establishment in Slovakia. A concept document for the setting-up of one-stop-shops shall be elaborated.
5	10 – Attracting and retaining talents - Investment 1: Support tools and assistance for specific target groups	Target	Number of beneficiaries using the IOM Migration Information Centre services		Number	0	7 000	Q4	2024	During the period 2022-2024, at least 7 000 beneficiaries shall be provided services of the IOM Migration Information Centre. The beneficiaries shall fall under one of the following specific target groups: highly qualified foreign workers, foreign higher education students, beneficiaries belonging to the selected groups defined in the Resolution in Reform 1 or family members of these target groups.
6	10 – Attracting and retaining talents - Investment 2: Strengthening relations with the diaspora	Target	Number of events strengthening relations with the diaspora		Number	0	200	Q1	2026	Deliver 200 events with Slovaks abroad. Each event shall cover at least one of the following topics: - residence legislation and citizenship in Slovakia; - internationalisation of higher education and research institutions and student mobility; - cooperation between domestic, European and international research institutions; - promotion of career opportunities in Slovakia.
7	10 – Attracting and retaining talents - Investment 3: Scholarships for domestic and foreign talented students	Target	Number of awarded scholarships for talented students		Number	0	4 226	Q4	2024	Award at least 4 226 scholarships for: a)most talented domestic students – taking into account their high-school graduation grade; b)top talents from abroad – measured by standardised international tests; and c)talented socially disadvantaged students – taking into account their high-school graduation grade. The RRF shall support students entering a higher education institution between 2022 and 2024. The scheme shall provide scholarships for selected students during three years of higher education studies. Contracts shall be signed to provide financial incentive for universities receiving the students.
8	10 – Attracting and retaining talents - Investment 4: Promoting internationalisation in the academic environment	Milestone	Strategy for internationalisation of universities	Government adoption of the strategy				Q4	2021	Adoption of an internationalisation strategy for universities, aiming at proposing measures to support the preparation of joint study programmes, attracting foreign students and academics, or implementing systemic institutional changes in Slovak universities.
9	10 – Attracting and retaining talents - Investment 4: Promoting internationalisation in the academic enviroment	Target	Number of projects aimed at internationalisation of Slovak higher education institutions or research institutions		Number	0	28	Q4	2025	Publish calls for applications and select at least 28 projects aimed at internationalisation of Slovak higher education institutions or research institutions. The projects shall either: a) assess the internationalisation activities at the level of higher education institutions or research institutions and introduce measures based on the audit recommendations; or b) ensure participation of Slovak higher education institutions in foreign fairs and student recruitment events abroad and promote Slovak higher education institutions during those events.

COMPONENT 11: Modern and accessible healthcare

The objective of this component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan is to create a modern, accessible and efficient hospital network that provides quality healthcare, an attractive environment for staff, efficient processes and healthy management. The aim is also to increase the availability of emergency health services, building on the needs of the new hospital network, and to strengthen primary care, which is intended to be an essential integration point for patient care.

The component includes five reforms and four investments.

The component addresses the Country Specific Recommendation 1 from 2020 that refers to the strengthening of the resilience of the health system in the areas of health workforce, critical medical products and infrastructure; and the improvement of primary care provision and coordination between types of care.

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform 1: Optimisation of the hospital network

The objective of the reform is to improve the quality and efficiency of inpatient healthcare through the definition of the typology and hierarchy of inpatient care, as well as the definition of minimum conditions for the provision of medical services.

The measure consists in defining profiles of hospitals. A profile means a set of compulsory services and other requirements a provider at a certain level must comply with. After changing the profile, certain hospitals will be obliged to cover several services grouped under the specified profile. Some will broaden the scope of activity, others are expected to transform acute beds’ departments into long-term care departments.

Reform 2: Reform of the preparation of health investment projects

The Ministry of Health in a close cooperation with the Ministry of Finance shall adopt the plan for all health investment projects. The plan shall be accompanied with the methodology for evaluating health investments, which shall determine decision-making criteria based on financial, medical, societal and socio-economic benefits.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 June 2022.

Reform 3: Centralisation of the management of the largest hospitals

The objective of this measure is to enhance the coordination and efficiency of state-owned hospitals through a central management system.

This measure consists in establishing a central hospital management body and launching a pilot project involving the 19 hospitals, including 1) central controlling, budgeting, performance planning and monitoring; 2) processes for central purchasing of medicinal products, medical materials, equipment; 3) centralisation of support services; 4) human resources management.

Reform 4: Optimising the emergency care network and the new definition of emergency care

The reform shall address the legal changes needed to increase the universal availability of ambulances within 15 minutes for the required more than 90 % of the country’s population. The amendment of the law provides for the fair geographical distribution of ambulance stations. The emergency care network shall be based on the demand for interventions according to diagnosis and regions, the geographical distribution of ambulance stations, taking into account the road network and infrastructure, the availability of suitable types of hospital facilities, while using mathematical modelling and simulations from real data (such as p-median model).

The new definition of emergency care shall be introduced to identify the number of authorised users of ambulance services and how to respond to the demand of these users.

The implementation of this reform shall be completed by 31 March 2023.

Reform 5: Reform of primary care provision for adults, children and youth

The objective of the reform is to ensure access to primary care services in those regions that suffer from a deficit of practising general practitioners (GPs) and paediatricians. The appropriate legislation shall define the requirements for the optimal number and location of GPs and paediatricians over maximum distance (optimal number of the medical doctors defined by the county population and age structure) and to introduce zoning criteria and the process of annual evaluation. The purpose of the zoning is to classify territories according to the severity of the identified GP shortages. This detailed map of gaps in primary care provision allow for better targeting of remedial action, including the modulation of incentives for doctors to open new practices in underserved areas. These should then have access to support for general medicine, in particular in the form of financial grants for setting up and equipping GP practices or compensatory payments when opening a new practice in the underserved areas (related to Investment 1).

The implementation of this reform shall be completed by 30 June 2022.

Investment 1: Support the opening of new primary care practices in underserved areas

The objective of this measure is to ensure adequate healthcare coverage in underserved regions by supporting the establishment of new outpatient practices in areas facing a shortage of general practitioners for both adult and children.

The measure consists in providing temporary financial support to physicians setting up new outpatient practices, covering either first-year operating costs or initial investment expenses.

Investment 2: New hospital network – construction, reconstruction and equipment

The objective of the measure is to upgrade the existing hospital infrastructure and to construct new facilities aligned with the needs of a modern healthcare system,

This measure consists in the construction or reconstruction of hospital facilities expressed by hospital bed capacity.

Investment 3: Digitalisation in health

The objective of this measure is to support the implementation of the Reform 3 under this component, which focuses on the centralisation of largest hospitals. - Centralisation of the management of the largest hospitals.

This measure consists in the centralisation of the Central integration platform (CIP) and digital applications within a pilot project of 19 hospitals under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health , and in the procurement and installation of medical technology in three cardiovascular institutes to enable the performance of atrial fibrillation surgeries.

Investment 4: Construction and rehabilitation of ambulance stations

The objective of this measure is to support the implementation of Reform 1 and Reform 4, aimed at optimising the hospital and emergency care networks, including the reorganisation of ambulance stations.

This measure consists in the construction and/or reconstruction of small-scale ambulance stations, with some facilities rebuilt and others upgraded, ensuring they meet energy efficiency and fair geographical distribution standards.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Reform 1 Optimization of the Hospital Network (UN)	Milestone	Introduction of the hospital network	Legislative amendment enter into force				Q1	2022	Legislative amendments to laws and related legal acts (laws included: 576/2004, 577/2004, 578/2004, 579/2004, 581/2004) introducing the optimization of hospital network shall define hierarchy of inpatient care providers depending on complexity of care provided, scope of services and time accessibility. There will be 5 levels of inpatient care providers. The law shall set compulsory services that providers are obliged to provide at each level. Furthermore it shall define quality indicators, requirements for technical equipment, personnel capacities, waiting times for certain services.
2	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Reform 1 Optimization of the Hospital Network (UN)	Target	Share of the reprofiled hospitals (authorised within the scope of general and specialised hospitals) under the new hospital network		%	0	40	Q4	2025	40% of hospitals shall be reprofiled and provide compulsory services according to the levels of inpatient care providers already set in Reform 1 milestone 1. To demonstrate that 40% of hospitals have been reprofiled, a published list of at least 37 hospitals with final service profile decision shall be made available, showing that this decision is officially adopted.
3	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Reform 2 Reform of the preparation of health investment plans	Milestone	A prioritised investment plan according to the investment evaluation methodology adopted by the Ministry of Health	prioritised investment plan published on the website of the Ministry of Health				Q2	2022	The plan shall comprise of all the investments to be financed from the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the EU Structural Funds and shall start preparing these projects as a matter of priority for implementation (linked to Investments 1, 2 and 3). A methodology for evaluating health investments shall be developed, which will determine decision-making criteria based on financial, medical but also indirect benefits, including societal and socio-economic benefits. A model for decision-making on the economic efficiency of an investment in the health sector shall be set, taking into account not only the direct financial benefits of the investment but all indirect (e.g. greater patient comfort).
4	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Reform 3 Centraliza-tion of the management of the largest hospitals	Milestone	Establishment of a central hospital management body from an organisational, operational and economic point of view	Central Hospital Management Authority approved by the Ministry of Health and fully operational				Q4	2023	This authority shall effectively provide the governing structure for the 19 hospitals that shall consist of the hospital network being in the pilot phase (see target below). This means that it would: manage, guide and evaluate hospitals’ planning and performance such as financial controlling, compliance control, HR, quality and risk management with a link to clinical processes. It shall also make the recommendations for optimization of expenditures and inventories of medicines and medical devices.
5	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Reform 3 Centraliza-tion of the management of the largest hospitals	Target	Number of hospitals involved in central management system		Number	0	19	Q2	2025	Central management system shall embrace 19 state controlled hospitals in the piloting phase.
6	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Reform 4 Optimisation of the emergency care network and new definition of emergency care	Milestone	Amendment to the law on Optimal emergency care network and new definition of emergency care	The legislation on the new optimal emergency care network enters into force.				Q1	2023	The legislative amendments shall introduce a new network of ambulance stations and a new definition of emergency care. The new network shall guarantee the availability of emergency services within 15 minutes for 90 % of the population. It shall be geographically and procedurally linked to the new hospital network The new definition of emergency care shall determine the number of authorized users of ambulance services and how to respond to the request of those users.
7	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Reform 5 Reform of primary care provision for adults, children and youth	Milestone	The new law on the establishment of the network of general care providers and the introduction of zoning	Entry into force the act of law				Q2	2022	The new legislation shall set out rules for the primary care network to determine the number and distribution of general practitioners on the basis of: -availability (maximum travel time per doctor); -capacity needs (the number of general practitioners of adults and children needed, based on the size and age structure of the population).
8	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Investment 1 Supporting the opening of new primary care	Milestone	Public calls for the establishment of new primary care outpatient practices	Launch of public calls				Q2	2025	Launch of public calls for the establishment of new primary care outpatient practices for general practitioners in eight regions: -Bratislava Region, -Trnava Region, -Trenčín Region, -NitraRegion, -ŽilinaRegion, -Banská Bystrica Region, -Prešov Region, -KošiceRegion,
14	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Investment 2 New hospital network – construction, reconstru-ction and equipment	Target	Hospital bed capacity available at shell and core construction level.	Number			1 287	Q2	2026	New hospitals with a capacity of at least 1 287 beds built at “shell and core” level. The new hospitals shall meet the energy efficiency requirements of intervention field 25ter according to the BREEAM preliminary assessment standards. Public contracts awarded for the construction of each hospital shall be provided. Shell and core – foundations, structure/load-bearing constructions, piping – main vertical, horizontal waterproofing, external sewage, external installations, without machinery, central heating, wiring, floors, final finishes, and equipment.
10	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Investment 2 New hospital network – construction, reconstru-ction and equipment	Target	Hospital bed capacity available in upgraded hospitals		Number	0	1190	Q2	2026	Upgraded hospitals with a capacity of 1 190 beds at “full fit out” level. Public contracts awarded for the upgrade of each hospital shall be provided. Full fit out is defined as a) renovation, construction, extension, completion or superstructure and other conversion; and b) provision of physical and technical equipment, either newly acquired or existing.
11	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Investment 3 Digitalisa-tion in health	Target	Central integration platform (CIP) procurement for 19 centrally managed public hospitals.		Number	0	19	Q4	2025	Notification of the award of public contract for the central integration platform (CIP) for centralized control and processes management.
12	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Investment 3 Digitalisa-tion in health	Target	Increase in the provision of atrial fibrillation surgeries		%	0	20	Q4	2024	3 institutes of cardiovascular diseases shall be equipped with a complex technology (intracardiac navigation equipment and pulsed electric field ablation equipment with relevant complementary medical equipment) to perform atrial fibrillation surgery, which shall: ·reduce the average time spent on the atrial fibrillation surgery by at least 30% compared to the pre-investment baseline (that is, average time per surgery of the five year pre-investment period of 2018-2022 compared to the 2024 period). ·increase the number of successful atrial fibrillation ablation surgeries performed by at least 20% by Q4 2024, compared to the pre-investment baseline (that is, average yearly volume of the five year pre-investmest period of 2018-2022 compared to the 2024 period).
13	11 – Modern and accessible health care – Investment 4 Construction and rehabilita-tion of ambulance stations (Ambulance Services)	Target	Number of ambulance stations constructed or reconstructed		Number	0	55	Q2	2026	The aim is to build or renovate emergency ambulance station buildings, which shall be placed in the new network of the emergency care. The renovated buildings shall be located in buildings meeting the energy efficiency requirements of intervention field 26bis (at least 30 % energy savings compared to current status). The new buildings shall be located in buildings that, in accordance with the regulation effective from 1.1.2021, must comply with energy efficiency class A0. Fair geographical distribution is based on the legislation on station locations and a study by University of Žilina.

COMPONENT 12: Human, modern and accessible mental health care

The objective of the component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan is to foster systemic improvements in mental health care in Slovakia, underpinned by cooperation across different sectors of public administration and professional organisations. The measures aim to modernise psychiatric and psychological socio-medical care, to promote mental health and the prevention of psychological disorders in the general population, to strengthen socio-medical care and to increase its accessibility.

Measures in this component shall contribute to addressing Country-Specific Recommendations to Slovakia, in particular as regards resilience of the health care system and coordination between types of care (Country-Specific Recommendation 1, 2020) and long-term care (Country-Specific Recommendation 2, 2019).

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform 1: Coordinated inter-ministerial cooperation and regulation

The objective of this reform is to improve the coordination of policy in the domain of mental health across the public adminsitration. This measure consists of the establishment of a government council as a coordination body, the expansion of the competencies for an association for psychologists and the submission of an epidemiological study with a view to future publication.

Investment 2: Creation of detention facilities

The objective of this investment is to provide care to psychiatric patients who committed serious criminal offences This measure consists in constructing one detention facility entirely and finishing the ongoing construction of a second detention facility.

Investment 3: Building community-based mental healthcare centres

The objective of this investment is to increase the availabilty of community-based mental healthcare centres. This measure consists in establising psycho-social centres, psychiatric stationary facilities and centres for autism spectrum disorders.

Investment 7: Humanisation of institutional psychiatric care

The objective of this investment is to improve the conditions under which hospitalisation occurs in institutional psychiatric care. This measure consists in the reconstruction of institutional psychiatric care facilities.

Investment 8: Training in mental health for staff

The objective of this investment is to increase the availabilty and quality of mental healthcare. This measure consists in the training of persons working in the domain of mental healthcare.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Base-line	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	12 – Human, modern and accessible mental health care - Reform 1: Coordinated inter-ministerial cooperation and regulation	Milestone	Establishment of one entity for mental health, and the expansion of the competencies for an association for psychologists	Establishment of a government council as a coordination body, expansion of the competencies for an association for psychologists and submission of an epidemiological study				Q2	2025	A governmental council shall be established which shall be tasked to coordinate mental health policy across ministries. The professional association for psychologists shall be responsible for maintaining a registry of psychologists. A study which maps the epidemiological situation of mental disorders in Slovakia shall be submitted to a peer reviewed journal with a view to future publication.
2	12 – Human, modern and accessible mental health care - Investment 2: Creation of detention facilities	Milestone	Patient capacity of detention facilities	Two detention facilities established				Q4	2025	Two detention facilities shall be established and have capacity of at least 75 beds each.
3	12 – Human, modern and accessible mental health care - Investment 3: Building community-based mental healthcare centres	Target	Number of created community-based mental health care centres		Number	0	27	Q4	2025	11 psycho-social centres, 12 psychiatric stationary facilities and 4 centres for autism spectrum disorders, shall be established. Some of these shall be newly constructed, while others shall be created through the renovation of existing buildings. Buildings subjected to renovation shall contribute to the green transition by achieving at least on average 30% of primary energy savings.
5	12 – Human, modern and accessible mental health care - Investment 7: Humanisa-tion of institutional psychiatric care	Milestone	Reconstru- ction of institutional psychiatric care	Reconstructed psychiatric facilities				Q4	2025	Psychiatric facilities shall be reconstructed covering a capacity of at least 298 beds without increasing the total number of beds. Part of the reconstruction shall concern isolation rooms.
6	12 – Human, modern and accessible mental health care - Investment 8: Training in mental health for staff	Target	Number of persons trained in mental healthcare		Number	0	336	Q2	2025	336 persons who work in the domain of mental healthcare shall be trained. A national mental health line shall be operated from 2021 to 2023.

COMPONENT 13: Accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care

Slovakia’s long-term care system is not ready for the expected rapid ageing of the population. The proportion of the population older than 65 years of age shall increase from the current 16% to over 24% by 2040. Access to quality and affordable long-term care is insufficient, due to general underfunding of community and home-based care services, fragmented governance, and the lack of systemic coordination of social and healthcare services. There is no comprehensive, adequate strategy encompassing both social and health care aspects. The assessment of long-term care needs for persons with disabilities is also incoherent. Supervision of social care is inefficient and particularly insufficient as regards home-based care. Moreover, the financing system is fragmented and favours institutionalised care amid a lack of support for home-based and community-based services. For this reason, proper long-term and palliative care services are lacking, particularly in home-based and community-based care settings.

This component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan shall prepare Slovakia for a rapidly ageing population by ensuring high-quality, accessible and comprehensive support for people in need of long-term and palliative care. The provision of such care shall also increase the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society, as well as their level of social protection. The regulatory reforms aim at a more coherent and better coordinated care system linking social and health care, an improved funding scheme centred around people’s needs and providing better incentives for community-based care, a more coherent assessment of care needs for persons with disabilities, and improved supervision of social care. Investments shall result in additional long-term care, palliative care and after-care service capacities, in particular in the provision of home-based and community-based care.

The component shall contribute to addressing Country Specific Recommendation no 2 from 2019, enhancing access to affordable and quality long-term care, and to addressing Country Specific Recommendation no 1 from 2020, improving coordination between types of care. It shall also make a contribution to safeguarding the long-term sustainability of public finances, in particular of the health care system, as recommended in Country Specific Recommendation no 1 from 2019.

Reform 1: Integration and financing of long-term social and health care

The objective of this reform is to improve the coordination and effectiveness of long-term social and health care by establishing a framework that comprises both sectors.

This measure consists in the introduction of a financing system for individuals with care needs living at home, based on personal budget principles, while also stabilising the financing of the social services. It simplifies funding for individuals with care needs, and aims to promote home-based and community-based care, with new legislation set to take effect by specified deadlines.

Reform 2: Assessment of care needs

The assessment of long-term care needs for persons with disabilities is incoherent amid a fragmented system. While not the case for the provision of social services, the recognition of severe disabilities is a precondition for the granting of personal assistance and care allowance.

This reform shall improve and streamline the way persons with severe disabilities are recognised. It shall introduce a unified framework and assessment system for personal assistance and care to persons with severe disabilities. The main assessment shall be carried out by labour, social and family offices and according to a uniform methodology based on the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0, assessing a wide range of needs. To reduce administrative burden and as part of digitalisation efforts, assessors shall use the e-health system. Assessors across the 46 branch offices shall receive the equipment necessary to carry out their work.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 March 2024.

Reform 3: Consolidation of the supervision of social care and provision of necessary infrastructure

The system of supervision of social care provision is fragmented and inefficient. Supervision and control are currently carried out by different authorities at national and regional level without a clear allocation of competences. Capacities for supervision are insufficient. Informal care and personal assistance, particularly home-based care provided by family members, are not covered.

This reform shall consolidate the supervision of social care. A unified supervisory authority shall be established. It shall oversee the provision of social services and their quality, the quality and scope of assistance for persons receiving a personal budget for care needs, and the provision of healthcare in social services (together with the Healthcare Supervisory Authority). The quality of care shall be assessed according to a methodology developed in line with the WHO’s Quality Rights Toolkit. The measure shall also provide the necessary infrastructure for the new system of supervision, composed of the headquarters and eight regional branches, including premises, vehicles and IT equipment.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 March 2024.

Investment 1: Enhancing community-based social care capacities

The objective of this investment is to address the imbalance in Slovakia's social services by shifting focus from large-scale residential care to enhancing community-based and outpatient facilities.

The measure consists in the creation of capacity units in community-based, low-capacity health-social care facilities, and outpatient facilities.

Investment 2: Extension and renewal of after-care and nursing capacities

The objective of this investment is to improve after-care for patients post-hospitalisation and enhance home-based nursing capacities to reduce unnecessary re-hospitalizations.

The measure consists in the creation of new after-care beds and support home nursing providers by establishing new ones and equipping existing facilities.

Investment 3: Enhancing and restoring palliative care capacities

The objective of this investment is to enhance the network of palliative services for patients with terminal illnesses.

The measure consists in the creation of new palliative care beds in low-capacity hospices, improvement of hospital palliative wards, and extension of mobile palliative care services by establishing new mobile hospices and upgrading existing ones.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care - Reform 1: Available and quality long-term socio-health care – Reform of integration and financing of long-term social and health care	Milestone	New legislative framework for long-term health and palliative care	Entry into force of a new law on long-term and palliative care and of the regulation of financing of palliative and nursing care				Q1	2023	The first phase of the implementation of the reform consists of regulating the reimbursement by health insurance companies of nursing care in social services facilities, the arrangements for the contract of nursing care by insurance companies and the adjustment of reimbursements by health insurance companies for palliative and outpatient and inpatient care. The adoption of this legislative amendment is foreseen by Q1 2022. The next phase of implementation consists of the development and approval of new legislation. A new health law shall define the scope of long-term health and palliative care and define after care and its linkage with other types of care. This law shall be adopted by Q1 2023. The legislative amendments shall regulate the areas currently defined by Act No 576/2004 on health care and services related to the provision of healthcare
2	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care – Reform 1:Available and quality long-term socio-health care – Reform of integration and financing of long-term social and health care	Milestone	Publication of the concept of financing social services for public debate	Published concept on the financing of social services				Q4	2023	As a result of the first phase of the preparation of the reform of the financing of social services, a new concept for the financing of social services shall be proposed by the the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic for stakeholder consultation.
3	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care - Reform 1: Available and quality long-term socio-health care – Reform of integration and financing of long-term social and health care	Milestone	The new financing system of social services – introduction of a personal budget	Provision indicating entry into force of the act on the financing of social services				Q4	2025	Provision indicating entry into force of legislation on social services which shall introduce a new financing system based on a personal budget for the deprived person. A transitional period, for the phased entry into force shall apply. This transitional period shall start with the publication of the act in the Official Journal and shall end no later than 31 December 2026.
4	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care - Reform 2: Available and high-quality long-term socio-health care – Assessment of care needs	Milestone	Unification of the assessment system	Entry into force of the act on social services and amending Act 447/2008 on compensation of severely disabled persons				Q1	2024	Entry into force of legislation on social services which shall bring together the assessment work carried out so far by various bodies and, at the same time, amend Act No 447/2008 on compensation of severely disabled persons. The reform of the assessment work shall remove inefficiencies and red tape for medical assessors and assessors. New uniform criteria for sub-dependency shall be defined to make the assessment more transparent. The assessment work shall be digitised – medical assessors shall use the e-health system. To ensure efficient implementation of the reform, the financial resources under this reform shall be used to provide computer and office equipment for 200 assessment staff.
5	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care - Reform 3: Reforming the supervision of social care and providing infrastructure for its implementation	Milestone	Reform of the supervision of social care	Entry into force of the act on the supervision of social care				Q2	2022	Entry into force of a law in the area of social care supervision which shall unify the powers of supervision and; —Create the legislative basis for the functioning of the new social welfare supervisory/inspection; — Define new conditions for quality of care in social services and households; — Extend the area of supervision to include the supervision of informal home care.
6	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care - Reform 3: Reforming the supervision of social care and providing infrastructure for its implementation	Target	Establish-ment of a unified supervisory system with headquarter and 8 branches		Number	0	9	Q1	2024	Completion of the necessary infrastructure for the functioning of the supervisory body – headquarter and 8 regional branches. Costs include premises, vehicles, computer equipment and other prerequisites.
8	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care – Investment 1: Enhancement of community-based social care capacities	Milestone	Enhancement of capacities of community-based residential services and health-social low-capacity facilities	Construction and renovation of community-based facilities and health-social care facilities				Q2	2026	The construction of new buildings and the renovation of existing ones shall result in the creation of a total of 3,982 weighted capacity units. Community-based facilities shall have a maximum capacity of 12 places each, and health-social care facilities shall have a maximum capacity of 30 places each. All facilities shall adhere to the principles of universal design and comply with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In the case of building renovations, the minimum objective is to achieve an average primary energy saving of 30%.
10	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care – Investment 1: Enhancement of community-based social care capacities	Milestone	Expansion of outpatient service capacities	Construction and renovation of facilities				Q2	2026	The construction of new buildings or the renovation of existing ones shall result in the creation of 1,259 weighted capacity units for outpatient services. All facilities shall adhere to the principles of universal design and comply with conditions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In the case of building renovations, the minimum objective is to achieve an average primary energy saving of 30%.
11	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care – Investment 2: Extension and restoration of after-care and nursing capacities	Milestone	Extension and renewal of home nursing providers	Investment in the technical equipment of home nursing providers				Q1	2025	At least 11 new home nursing agencies shall be established, and at least 80 existing home nursing agencies shall be re-equipped.
12	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care – Investment 2: Extension and restoration of after-care and nursing capacities	Milestone	Creation of after care beds by renovating acute and chronic beds or by building aftercare beds	After care beds capacity created or optimised				Q2	2026	At least 10 facilities shall cover a total combined of 650 after-care beds. This capacity shall be achieved either through the reallocation of existing capacities resulting from the optimisation of the hospital network or through the creation of new aftercare bed places.
13	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care – Investment 3: Extension and restoration of palliative care capacities	Milestone	Expansion and renewal of residential palliative care capacities	Construction or renovation of hospices and beds in palliative care departments				Q3	2025	The construction of new or renovation of existing hospices and beds in palliative care departments shall provide long-term palliative care, resulting in a combined capacity of 270 bed places created or restored.
14	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care – Investment 3: Extension and restoration of palliative care capacities	Target	Extension and renewal of the mobile hospices network (indicator: number of new and rebuilt units)		Number	0	26	Q1	2025	Technical equipment of 26 mobile hospices, supporting both new and existing units.

COMPONENT 14: Improve the business environment

Slovakia’s business environment has slowly been losing ground. Frequent changes to the legislative environment and high regulatory burden entail costs for businesses, costly and lengthy insolvency procedures hinder resource reallocation, and an opaque public procurement framework slows down investment and leads to sub-optimal procurement.

This component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan aims at making various improvements to the business environment. The measures aim at reducing administrative burden to businesses, upgrading and digitalising the insolvency framework, and improving public procurement procedures.

The component thereby contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 4 of 2020 to ensure a favourable business environment as well as to Country Specific Recommendation 3 of 2019 by addressing public procurement challenges.

Reform 1: Reducing regulatory burden for businesses

The objective of the reform is to reduce the administrative burden to businesses. This measure consists in the introduction of three tools to reduce the regulatory burden, namely the 1-in 2-out rule, the principle of protection against unjustified gold-plating, and the ex-post evaluation of existing regulations. The measure also consists in the entry into force of 300 measures to reduce the administrative burden on businesses.

Reform 2: Harmonising and digitalising insolvency procedures

Slovakia’s insolvency proceedings are lengthy and costly. Proper early warning mechanisms are lacking, there are no specialised courts for dealing with insolvency procedures, and the lack of a fully digitalised workflow slows down processes.

This reform shall establish unified and digitalised insolvency and restructuring procedures that improve their transparency, time and cost. It shall put in place an improved and harmonised insolvency framework, including early warning tools and insolvency specialisation in business courts.

The legislation concerning early warning mechanisms shall enter into force by 31 January 2022. The respective legislative amendments of Act No 7/2005 on bankruptcy and restructuring, Act No 328/1991 on bankruptcy and composition, Act No 8/2005 on trustees, Act No 757/2004 on courts and Act No 371/2004 on the seats and districts of the courts of the Slovak Republic shall enter into force by 31 March 2023.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 March 2023.

Reform 3: Public procurement procedures

The complexity and length of the public procurement verification procedures remains a blocking factor for potential beneficiaries. In addition, there is scope to increase the use of quality related and lifecycle cost criteria. At the same time, proper safeguards need to be ensured. In the context of distrust towards public institutions, public buyers need to make more effort to regain confidence from businesses, media and the public at large. Benefits of professionalization efforts so far are only emerging slowly.

The reform of public procurement shall simplify and accelerate procedures while ensuring proper safeguards. It also aims at improving control by digitalising and automating award and evaluation of contracts. The legislative reform shall regulate both above-limit and below-limit public procedures as well as those with low value. Public procurement procedures shall be simplified and shortened, control procedures improved, and transparency increased in particular by setting up a single, public electronic platform for the entire procurement process, including for below-threshold and low-value contracts. All changes, particularly as proper safeguards such as transparency requirements, review procedures and the separation of tasks and competences are concerned, shall fully comply with EU law. In order to improve the use of quality criteria, rules for green public procurement are expected to be strengthened. It is expected that a further strengthening of the use of quality criteria shall be achieved through non-regulatory means. The measure shall enhance further professionalisation of public procurement by building capacities of the Public Procurement Office. Specifically, the provision of trainings in various formats to improve the application of –reformed- public procurement procedures shall take place.

The reform of the Public Procurement Act shall enter into force by 31 March 2022. The single electronic platform shall be operational by 30 June 2023.

Investment 1: Capacities for reforms to reduce regulatory burden

The objective of the investment is to have temporary project teams in place to design and carry out Reform 1. This measure consists in training courses for the submitters of legislative and non-legislative materials involved in the application of the 1-in 2-out rule, the principle of protection against unjustified gold-plating, and ex-post evaluation of existing regulations.

Investment 2: Digitalisation of insolvency processes

The objective of the investment is to digitalise and shorten insolvency procedures. This measure consists in the launch of an IT system to handle insolvency processes.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Measurement unit	Background	Target	Quarter	Year
1	14 – Improve the business environment - Reform 1:Reducing the regulatory burden on business	Milestone	introduction of the new regulatory burden reduction tools:—Implementation of the “1in-2out” rule – Introduction of ex-post evaluation of existing regulations (legislative and non-legislative materials) – Introduction of protection against unjustified goldplating	Entry into force of resolutions updating the Unified Methodology for the Assessment of Selected Impacts				Q1	2023	Entry into force of government resolutions updating the Unified Methodology for the Assessment of Selected Impacts and introducing new tools to reduce regulatory burden:—Introduction of the “1-in-2out” rule into 1Q/2022—Introduction of ex-post evaluation of existing regulations (legislative materials up to 1Q/2022 and non-legislative materials up to 1Q/2023) as regards their effectiveness and justification – Introduction of protection against unjustified goldplating by 4Q/2022 – Investment implementation to implement measures to reduce the regulatory burden on business.
2	14 – Improve the business environment - Reform 1: Reducing regulatory burden on business	Milestone	Reduction of the administrative burden on entrepreneurs	Entry into force of 300 measures				Q4	2024	300 measures, included in two packages, shall enter into force.
3	14 – Improve the business environment - Investment 1: Capacities for reforms to reduce regulatory burden	Milestone	Application of the 1in-2out rule, the principle of protection against unjustified goldplating and ex post evaluations of existing regulation	Training courses for submitters of legislative and non-legislative materials				Q2	2025	Training courses shall be carried out for the submitters of legislative and non-legislative materials on the application of the 1-in 2-out rule, the principle of protection against unjustified gold-plating, and the ex-post evaluation of existing regulations.
4	14 – Improve the business environment - Reform 2:Reform of the insolvency framework – adaptation of legislation	Milestone	Reform of the insolvency framework	Entry into force of a set of laws governing insolvency proceedings.				Q1	2023	Entry into force of laws which shall establish the legal framework for the unification and full digitalisation of the liquidation, bankruptcy, restructuring and discharge of debt and, where appropriate, the resolution of impending bankruptcy, as well as the modification of the legal and procedural frameworks for the digitalisation of forced liquidation processes. It includes the introduction of early warning tools and creates an insolvency specialisation at the level of business courts. The government and parliament approve a set of laws:—A new law on non-public financial restructuring and public preventive restructuring;—Amendment to Act No 7/2005 on Bankruptcy and Restructuring, – Amendment to Act No 8/2005 on Administrators, – Amendment to Act No 328/1991 on bankruptcy and arrangement;—Amendment to Act No 757/2004 on Courts;—Amendment to Act No 371/2004 on the seats and districts of the courts of the Slovak Republic.
5	14 – Improve the business environment - Investment 2:Digitalisation of insolvency processes	Milestone	A single, fully digitised insolvency process is fully operational.	Launch of the IT system for insolvency proceedings, verified by the acceptance protocol				Q4	2024	The IT system for insolvency proceedings shall be launched. The IT system shall digitalise liquidation, bankruptcy, restructuring, debt discharge, and pre-insolvency proceedings. It shall allow for the cross-border exchange of information and for the provision of simple statistical data. Courts, creditors and the public shall have access to it.
6	14 – Improve the business environment - Reform 3: Reform of public procurement – adaptation of legislation	Milestone	Reform of the Public Procurement Procedures Act	Entry into force of the revised Act on Public Procurement Procedures by Parliament				Q1	2022	An amendment to the Public Procurement Procedures Act approved by the Government and the Parliament and entered into force will ensure: — Accelerating and simplifying the procurement procedure. — Accelerating the process also with a view to exercising the rights of the candidates, tenderers, participants and other persons concerned. —Improving control of public procurement by automating the award and evaluation of contracts and ensuring efficient collection and analysis of price data. — Ensure proper safeguards, in particular as regards transparency and any proposed amendments will be in line with both the relevant Directives of the European Parliament and of the Council as well as the rules laid down in the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
7	14 – Improve the business environment - Reform 3: Reform of public procurement – digitalisation of public procurement processes	Milestone	Digitalisation of public procurement processes through a single electronic platform.	The single electronic platform is fully operational as regards the 6 new functionalities.				Q2	2023	Digitalisation of public procurement processes shall be tested and fully operational, including interoperability with the information system of the Central reference data management (IS CSRÚ) pursuant to Act No 305/2013 Coll. allowing for automatic completion of contracting entity data, the extension of the scope to all goods and services.. Features: —Submission of below-threshold works, supplies and services not only those normally available on the market; — Award of a contract with a criterion other than price; —.Market research for low value contracts; — Publication of low value contracts; — Creation of the functionality for automated ranking of tenders; —.Integration with the information system of the Central reference data management (IS CSRÚ) pursuant to Act No 305/2013 Coll.

COMPONENT 15: Judicial reform

In Slovakia, specific concerns on the overall integrity of its justice system were raised, and trust in the judiciary ranks poorly compared to other EU countries. Corruption continues to pose a challenge and corruption perceptions remain problematic.

This component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan aims at further increasing the efficiency, integrity and independence of the justice system as well as at fighting corruption. The aim of the reform of the judicial map is to introduce the specialisation of judges and thus create scope for better and faster court decisions. The investments connected to the reform of the judicial map have two overarching aims. The first aim is to upgrade existing premises and construct or procure new premises for key courts in the new judicial map. The second aim is to invest in analytical capacities, digital technologies and the electronicisation of judicial processes, in order to contribute to better quality and faster services and increased procedural transparency, and to reduce the scope for corrupt practices.

The component contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.4 and Country Specific Recommendation 2020.4, namely to improve the effectiveness and to address integrity concerns in the justice system, as well as to increase efforts to detect and to prosecute corruption, and ensure effective supervision and enforcement of the anti-money laundering framework.

Reform 1: Reorganising the judicial map

The fragmentation of Slovakia’s judicial system undermines its effectiveness. Judges are unable to specialise to a sufficient degree, hampering efficiency and quality of court decisions. Moreover, the system’s heterogeneity results in a lack of transparency.

This reform therefore shall improve the efficiency and quality of the judiciary. To this end, it shall reorganise the system of courts by streamlining it and thereby allowing for a greater specialisation of judges in criminal, civil, commercial and family justice, paving the way for better and faster court decisions. It shall comprise a new network of first instance administrative and ordinary courts (including municipal courts), appeal courts, and a Supreme Administrative Court.

The main legislation implementing the reform of the judicial map shall enter into force by 31 December 2021. The transition of the judiciary system to a smaller number of courts and with specialised judges shall be completed by 31 March 2023.

Reform 2: Fighting corruption and strengthening the integrity and independence of the judiciary

The high level of perceived corruption is coupled with a lack of trust in the judiciary. A particular concern is the lack of means to prosecute corruption and money laundering.

This reform entails a package of legislative changes aimed at improving judicial integrity and independence, and fighting corruption and money laundering more effectively. This reform shall be implemented in compliance with Article 19 TEU to ensure effective judicial protection.

To strengthen judicial integrity and independence:

·The Supreme Administrative Court shall be established with the power to act as a disciplinary court for judges, prosecutors, bailiffs, notaries and administrators (linked to reform 1).

·The Judicial Council shall receive more competences in the verification of assets and judicial expertise of judges. Moreover, a regional principle shall be introduced to the election to the Judicial Council to ensure better representativeness.

·The election of judges to the Constitutional Court shall be improved and made more transparent by several means, such as a safeguard against parliamentary passivity in electing judges, the introduction of a rotational principle election of judges to reduce the risk of having too many judges selected by a particular political party. Public hearings shall be introduced for the election of key judges (of the Constitutional Court, the Attorney General and the Special Prosecutor).

·Rules on the exercise of the judicial profession shall be amended, including an age limit of 67 years for judges and 72 years for constitutional judges.

To ensure effective supervision and enforcement of the anti-money laundering framework:

·The Office for the Management of Seized Assets shall be set up, along with an improved legal framework allowing for more effective asset seizing and management. This measure is linked to anti-money laundering efforts in component 16 of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan.

To detect and prosecute corruption:

·New criminal offences shall be introduced if judges abuse laws and if public servants ask for or promise undue advantages.

A part of these legislative changes was planned for 31 December 2020. The entire package of legislation shall enter into force by 30 September 2021.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 September 2021.

Investment 1: Buildings for the reorganised court system

The objective of the measure is to modernise court buildings under the new judicial map.

The measure consists of renovating and modernising existing buildings, as well as procuring new suitable premises for courts.

Investment 2: Digitalisation and analytical capacities

The objective of the measure is to improve the effectiveness of the reformed judical network by improving the use of digital technology.

The measure consists of a number of actions, including the procurement of IT tools for court staff and buildings, the development of a digital business register that enables entrepreneurs and courts to carry out business register activities fully electronically, and an analytical support platform for case law that enables judges to speed up the analytical work.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	15 – Reform of the judiciary – Reform 1:Reform of the Judicial Map – Legislation	Milestone	Definition of a new judicial map	Entry into force of the Residences and districts Act				Q4	2021	The entry into force of the legislative amendment shall define a new system of courts. The changes of judicial map shall adjust the network of first instance ordinary courts, create administrative courts, adjust ordinary courts of appeal and create the Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic.
2	15 – Reform of the judiciary – Reform 1:Reform of the Judicial Map – Legislation	Milestone	The introduction of the new court network	Reorganized court network is operational				Q1	2023	The transition of the administration of justice to a smaller number of courts is completed and judges have been designated to a specialisation (among civil, family, criminal and commercial law) in at least 3 court agendas in each new judicial district (Q1/2023). The new network of first instance ordinary and administrative courts, the ordinary courts of appeal and the Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic (Q1/2023) is established and operational.
3	15 – Reform of the judiciary – Investment 1: reorganisation of courts – renovation of buildings	Target	Reconstructed area of court buildings in m²)		Area (m2)	0	48 388	Q2	2026	Renovation of 48 388 square metres of court buildings. The renovations shall achieve energy savings of at least 30% on average.
4	15 – Reform of the judiciary – Investment 1:Reorganisation of courts – Construction/pro-curement of new buildings	Target	Area of court buildings constructed or purchased ( in m²)		Area (m2)	0	24 909	Q4	2025	Signed purchase contracts for 24 909 square metres of court buildings shall be delivered. For all purchased buildings, energy performance certificates indicating an energy efficiency label of ‘B’ or higher shall be delivered. For buildings that require further renovation, a signed acceptance protocol for the renovation shall be delivered.
5	15 – Reform of the judiciary – Reform 2:Fighting corruption and strengthening the integrity and independence of the judiciary	Milestone	Package of laws to fight corruption and strengthen integrity and independence of the justice system	Entry into force of the Judicial Reform Act, the Constitutio-nal Act, the amended Act on the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the amended Criminal Code, and the Disciplinary Rules of the Supreme Administra-tion of the Court of Justice of the Slovak Republic				Q3	2021	Entry into force of the Act on the Management of Frozen Assets, the Judicial Reform Act, the Constitutional Act, the amended Act on the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the amended criminal code. the adoption of the Disciplinary Rules for the Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic
6	15 – Reform of the judiciary – Investment 2:Supporting instruments for reform of the Judicial Map – Commercial Register and Centralised System of Judicial Governance	Milestone	Development and handover of an IT system – Business Register	Business register created				Q2	2026	Creation of a centralised electronic business register. The functionalities enable entrepreneurs and courts to use and communicate with the register electronically, for example to register, change and remove information from the business register with the help of pre-filled forms, set up a company, and ensure automated interconnection with other registers.
8	15 – Reform of the judiciary – Investment 2:	Target	Modernisa-tion of court IT equipment for the court staff		Number	0	24 000	Q2	2025	Delivery of 24 000 pieces of modern IT equipment to courts (among new notebooks, docking stations, monitors, phones and MS Teams licenses). In addition, delivery of digital technology for courts for the efficient conduct of hearings and remote proceedings. This shall include: -Network servers for central storage of network components and information systems; -Network cards to support videoconferencing technology; -Network components and resort wifi: Wide Area Network (WAN), Local area Networks (LAN), WiFi infrastructure, Firewalls, Identity and Context Security Management, and Virtual Private Networks (VPN); -Videoconferencing technology: a server platform as well as videoconferencing hardware
9	15 – Reform of the judiciary – Investment 2:Judicial Map Reform Support Tools – Analytic Support Platform	Milestone	Creation of an analytical support platform for access to case law in courts	Acceptance protocol				Q4	2025	An analytical support platform shall enable judges to access a centralised database that provides monitoring of case law as well as analytical research of case law.

COMPONENT 16: Fight against corruption and money laundering, security and protection of the population

Slovakia ranks poorly in corruption perception indicators and trust in the police. Governance is fragmented and has limited capacity, hindering public service delivery and public investment, and financial crime is insufficiently tackled.

The key objectives of this component 16 of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan are to strengthen efforts to detect and prosecute corruption, fight against environmental crime, step up capacities of anti-money laundering efforts, optimise crisis management and strengthen administrative capacities at different levels of the government.

It thereby contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 4 of 2020, in particular to ensure effective supervision and enforcement of the anti-money laundering framework, and to ensure a favourable business environment and quality public services. Country Specific Recommendation 4 of 2019 is also addressed, including as regards increased efforts to detect and prosecute corruption.

Reform 1: Making the fight against corruption and money laundering more effective

New trends in international organised crime, including misuse of legal entities for money laundering purposes, are putting pressure on Slovakia to upgrade its anti-money laundering framework in order to prevent and combat economic crime.

This reform aims at enhancing the fight against money laundering and corruption. It shall improve the legal framework for asset freezing including the setting up of an office managing such assets and the competence of the police to verify their origin. It shall also introduce a central accounts register.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 March 2022.

Investment 1: Tools and capacity for the fight against corruption and money laundering

The fight against corruption and money laundering requires appropriate tools, including digital solutions, and capacities.

This investment shall provide several tools and capacity building measures to support reform 1. This shall include digital software solutions for financial investigations and for the central accounts register. Financial investigations capacities in the police force shall be strengthened through trainings and equipment as well as a reorganisation, which shall create the National Centre for Special Crimes (NCODK) together with the regional offices and analytical services of the National Criminal Agency (NAKA). In addition, steps shall be taken to make the whistleblower’s office fully operational, in order to support the fight against corruption. This includes the provision of technical equipment.

The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2023.

Reform 2: Modernising and building capacity of the police force

The structures and capacities of the police force are outdated and lack specialised services dealing with new forms of crime and criminal analysis. The reform shall overhaul the organisation of the police force, strengthening analytical capacities and a crime technology service as well as environmental crime investigations. It shall set up a criminal engineer service, criminal analysis units and a unit to combat environmental crime and staff and equip it appropriately.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2021.

Investment 2: Equipping and digitalising the police force

The objective of the measure is to build capacities of the police force and digitalise processes to make it more effective.

The measure consists of a number of actions such as the provision of training and vehicles, renovation of buildings as well as procurement of modernised IT solutions.

Reform 3: Optimising crisis management

Multiple crises, including the pandemic, have shown weaknesses in crisis response mechanisms.

This reform shall optimise crisis management and respective capacities and the efficient coordination of rescue services. This shall include a clear definition of the roles and cooperative arrangements of the emergency response services of the integrated rescue system, the establishment of common procedures for crisis reaction, and a joint coordination mechanism. It shall also lay out a network of Integrated Security Centres (see investment 3 of this component, Modernisation of the fire and rescue system).

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 March 2023.

Reform 4: Audit and Control

The aim of the measure is to ensure the efficient protection of the financial interests of the Union when implementing the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which is subject to the establishement of appropriate measures to prevent, detect and correct fraud, corruption and conflict of interests as defined in Article 61 of the Financial Regulation. Therefore, the improvement of the control and audit environment is a pre-requisite for the efficient implementation of the plan in compliance with the applicable Union and national law. This reform includes a new measure to protect Union financial interests in context of the RRF, in particular the adoption a) of a corruption risk management methodology and b) of procedures regarding the supervision by NIKA of that methodology’s implementation.

This milestone shall be fulfilled before the submission of the sixth payment request submitted to the Commission.

Investment 3: Modernization of the fire and rescue system

The objective of the measure is the provision of the necessary physical and digital infrastructure for the modernization of the crisis management system.

The investment consists of the set-up of an Integrated Security Centre and the construction and renovation of firefighting stations.

Investment 4: Streamlining, optimizing and strengthening administrative capacity at different levels of government

Public investment is held back by a lack of administrative capacity in implementation at several levels. Sizeable investment envisaged in the plan implies the need to further increase capacities for managing these investments. In addition, service delivery is hampered by fragmented governance at municipal level.

This reform shall strengthen administrative capacities both at local level and at national level for implementing the reforms and investments of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan. To this end, the National Implementation and Coordination Authority for the Slovak RRP (NIKA) shall be set up. The entering into force of the Recovery and Resilience Facility Act shall be in place by the time of the first payment request and at that moment not depart in any material way from the description provided in the final Slovak plan. A repository system for recording and storing all relevant data related to the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan - the achievement of milestones and targets, data on final recipients, contractors, subcontractors and beneficial owners - should be confirmed to be operational by 31 December 2021. Slovakia shall submit a dedicated audit report confirming the effectiveness of the functionalities of the repository system.

Media and communication activities are also expected to be supported. Shared service centres to be established aim to improve the efficiency of public service delivery at the local level, particularly in disadvantaged regions.

The Recovery and Resilience Facility Act shall enter into force by 31 December 2021. Audit report confirming repository system functionalities shall be completed by 31 December 2021. The IT system for NIKA shall be functional by 30 September 2022.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	16 – Fight against corruption and money laundering - Reform 1: Making the fight against corruption and AML more effective	Milestone	Reforms to streamline and improve financial investigations	Entry into force of the act 312/2020 on asset freezing and of an act establishing a Central Accounts Register				Q1	2022	Entry into force of the legislation which shall establish a framework for the entry into operation of the Central Accounts Register. The police’s authority to check property in the event of a discrepancy between legal income and used property will be expanded. An office for the management of seized assets is operational and possibilities for asset freezing expanded.
2	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 1: Tools and capacity for the fight against corruption and money laundering	Milestone	Providing necessary Infrastructure to support the fight against money laundering and corruption	AML-related and whistleblower infrastructure is fully operational.				Q4	2023	Completion of the following steps: -- Purchase of the “go AML” software tool until Q4/2022 and implementing it by Q3/2023. -- Launch of a test version of the Central Accounts Register with all in the Act predefined functionalities with access to data up to Q2/2022 and subsequent launch of the final version in Q4/2022. -- Operationalisation and full technical equipment of the whistle-blower protection office until Q3/2022. -- Adaptation of premises and ICT equipment of NCODK and NAKA units for financial investigation and verification of the origin of assets by regional level (model 1 + 4) to Q4/2023.
3	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 1: Tools and capacity for the fight against corruption and money laundering	Target	Retraining police officers in financial investigations and analytical activities		% of staff trained	0	100	Q4	2023	Establishment of the NAKA Analytical Centre and the Regional Analytical and Financial Investigation Offices of the NAKA and also establishment Regional Analytical and Financial Investigation Offices of the National Centre of Special Crimes (NCODK) in Q1/2022.All appointed staff in the newly established units of the police forces attended training, workshops and seminars with the participation of foreign and national lecturers, cooperation in training with CEPOL and EUROPOL.
4	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Reform 2: Modernisa-tion and capacity building of the police force	Milestone	Implementation of organisational changes to police to increase the efficiency of crime detection, investigation and detection of corruption	Organisational change of the police force is effective.				Q4	2021	Organisational changes aimed at creating a unit for detecting and investigating environmental crime (centre and regions), extending the analytical capacities of the police force to the regional level, establishing a new unit for crime technology services (centre and regions).
5	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 2: Equipping and digitalising the police force – training	Target	Training related to the police reform are rolled out		% of staff trained	0	100	Q4	2024	All officers appointed in the newly established units of the police forces (environmental crime, criminal analyses, criminal technology services) are trained. At least 300 police officers are trained to improve the quality of communication to victims of crime for police officers.
6	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 2:Equipping and digitalising the police force – renewal of the vehicle fleet	Target	Purchase of new vehicles (10 % of the fleet) of electric and hybrid vehicles		Number	0	700	Q4	2022	Of the overall objective to renew 705 vehicles of the police fleet by electric and hybrid vehicles (326 vehicles by Q2/2022 and 379 vehicles by Q4/2022), at least 700 police vehicles shall be replaced.
7	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 2: Equipping and digitalising the Police Force – Reconstru- ction of buildings	Milestone	Extent of the renovated floor area of police buildings to reduce the energy intensity of buildings (in m²)		Number	0	45 000	Q2	2025	Signed acceptance protocols for the renovation of 45 000 square meters in police buildings shall be delivered, along with the project energy assessments and energy performance certificates demonstrating energy savings of at least 30% on average.
8	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 2: Equipping and digitalising the Police Force – new or upgraded modules of the Foreign Residents Registration Information System (IS ECU)	Milestone	Electronicising residence permit processes to simplify processes for the public	Delivery of the new or upgraded modules				Q4	2024	New or upgraded modules of the Foreign Residents Information System shall be delivered with the following key functionalities: enhanced digital safety features within submission of an application for residence for third country nationals, renewal of residence, registration of residence for European Union residents, computerisation of the application for a document, notification modules and computerisation of communication in the course of the procedure.
9	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 2: Equipping and digitalising the police force – Automated system for detecting road traffic offences	Milestone	Upgrade of the system for detecting road traffic infringements	Acceptance protocols				Q2	2026	Automated system for the recording of infringements of road traffic rules is upgraded. New functionalities include: (1) recording and identifying road traffic infringements, (2) modifications to the existing system for automatic generation of decisions, and (3) statistics, reporting and analysis.
18	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 2: Equipping and digitalising the police force – Artificial intelligence platform	Milestone	New artificial intelligence platform	Delivery of the new artificial intelligence platform				Q2	2026	New artificial intelligence platform shall be delivered.
10	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Reform 3:Optimising crisis management	Milestone	Entry into force of the optimised crisis management	Entry into force of the amended act 129/2002 on the integrated rescue system				Q1	2023	The concept of optimising crisis management shall clearly define the relationships between the emergency response services of the integrated rescue system, establish common procedures for dealing with crisis situations, provide for joint coordination between the components, taking into account both the strategic and operational levels of crisis management, and propose a network of integrated security centres. The legislation shall enter into force by Q1 2023.
11	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 3:Modernisa- tion of the fire and rescue system – building a network of Integrated Security Centres	Milestone	Delivery of an Integrated Security Centre and a virtual Integrated Security Centre	Renovation of the Integrated Security Centre and launch of the Virtual Integrated Security Centre				Q2	2026	Renovation of one Integrated Security Centre, from which emergency services will be deployed, shall be delivered. The trial version of the Virtual Integrated Security Centre shall be operational including integration of telephone lines 112, 158, 150, 18300, 155 and modernization of the hardware infrastructure, as well as a Full Production Migration Plan preparing the launch shall be delivered.
12	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 3:Modernisa- tion of the fire and rescue system renewal of fire station buildings	Target	Modernisation of firefighting stations		Number	0	2	Q2	2026	Completion of construction works for one new firefighting station and the reconstruction of one existing firefighting station. The renovation of the fire-fighting station shall achieve on average at least 30 % primary energy savings.
13	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 4:Strengthe- ning administrative capacity at different levels of government – establi- shment of a National Implementa- tion and Coordination Authority	Milestone	Minimising implementation risk by establishing a coordination, financial and implementing body (NIKA) for the Recovery and Resilience Facility	Establishment and capacity building for RRP authority				Q3	2022	NIKA will be established by Q3 2021. It will be the coordinating, financial and implementing body for the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The subsequent steps entail: Strengthening the capacity of NIKA and government audit by Q4/2021. A new IT system for the purposes of NIKA is in place by Q3/2022.
14	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 4:Strengthe- ning administrative capacity at different levels of government – establish- ment of a National Implementa- tion and Coordination Authority	Milestone	Audit & controls: legal basis	Entry into force of the Recovery and Resilience Facility Act				Q4	2021	Parliamentary approval and legal entry into force of the Recovery and Resilience Facility Act must be completed before the first payment request.
15	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 4:Strengthe- ning administrative capacity at different levels of government – establish- ment of a National Implementa- tion and Coordination Authority	Milestone	RRP Repository System: information for monitoring implementation of RRP	Audit report confirming repository system functionalities				Q4	2021	A repository system, which may take the form of an Excel sheet, for monitoring the implementation of the RRP shall be in place and operational. The system shall include, as a minimum, the following functionalities: collection of data and monitoring of the achievement of milestones and targets; collect, store and ensure access to the data required by Article 22(2)(d)(i) to (iii) of the RRF Regulation.
16	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 4:Strengthe- ning administrative capacity at different levels of government – establish- ment of shared service centres	Target	Establishment of shared service centres.			0	20	Q4	2024	Of the overall objective to establish 22 shared service centres in the most lagging regions by Q4/2024, at least 20 shared service centres shall be established. These shared service centres help pool capacity at the local level in providing essential public (social) services.
19	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 4: Strengthening administrative capacity at different levels of government – New hardware equipment for public administration	Milestone	New hardware equipment for public administration (Ministry of Interior of the SR)	Delivery of the new hardware for Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic and its subordinate organisations and departments				Q2	2026	New hardware equipment for the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic and its subordinate organisations and departments, which organizationally belong to the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, including police units in charge of fighting corruption and money-laundering and investigating PIF Offences, amounting to 30 000 000 EUR shall be delivered.
20	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 4: Strengthening administrative capacity at different levels of government – New hardware equipment for public administration	Milestone	New hardware equipment for public administration.	Delivery of the new hardware for public administration				Q2	2026	New hardware equipment for the institutions of public administration other than Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic and its subordinate organizations and departments amounting to 20 461 207,16 EUR shall be delivered.
17	Reform 4: Audit and Control	Milestone	Adoption a) of a corruption risk management methodology and b) of procedures regarding the supervision by NIKA of that methodology’s implementation	Adoption and publication of the revised methodology for the management of corruption risks which is applicable to all bodies implementing the RRF and adoption of procedure of the Coordinating body on the supervision of implementation of that methodology				Q2	2025	The Government office shall adopt the revised methodology for the management of corruption risks. The methodology shall be binding for all bodies implementing the RRF and provide minimum standards for the management of corruption risks. The coordinating body shall additionally adopt a procedure on how the implementation of the methodology for the management of corruption risks will be monitored.

COMPONENT 17: DIGITAL SLOVAKIA (STATE IN THE MOBILE, CYBERSECURITY, FAST INTERNET FOR EVERYONE, DIGITAL ECONOMY)

The objective of this component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan is to achieve substantial progress of Slovakia towards a digital-prepared society and economy. This objective shall be achieved through measures aiming at digitalisation of public administration and of public services delivery, improving cybersecurity through standardised approaches for preventing and resolving incidents across all entities of public administration, an overarching digital skills strategy, and support to the EU's multi-country projects and investments in development of digital technologies and infrastructure.

Measures in this component shall contribute to addressing Country-Specific Recommendations to Slovakia, in particular as regards digital skills (Country-Specific Recommendation 2, 2020) digital transformation (Country-Specific Recommendation 3, 2020), business environment and quality of public services (Country-Specific Recommendation 4, 2020), research and innovation (Country-Specific Recommendation 3, 2019) and competitiveness of SMEs (Country-Specific Recommendation 3, 2019).

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform 1: Creating eGovernment solutions for priority life situations

This reform shall lead to the preparation and adoption by the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatisation (MIRRI) of an investment plan for priority “life situations” of citizens and businesses. The aim is to enable citizens and businesses to resolve administratively such life situations in one location quickly and easily.

The investment plan shall identify 16 priority life situations, describe the current and future status of the processes, and list investment actions that need to be carried out in the administrative entities and their information systems. Priority life situations shall be selected in accordance with the list of life situations monitored by eGov benchmark and taking into account the life situations included in Annex II of the Single Digital Gateway Regulation.

The reform shall lead to the introduction of a package of legislative amendments to deploy new digital public services on a unified design.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2023.

Reform 2: Central management of IT resources

Under this reform a central procurement platform shall be deployed for purchasing and using IT resources. These resources shall subsequently be made available for development of information systems in the public administration, with the overarching objective to reduce time and costs of such developments.

IT resources shall be procured centrally through a framework contract and public administration entities shall be entitled to draw upon them using a central platform, a Digital Marketplace. Cost reductions shall be achieved through more efficient purchase and allocation of IT capacities

The platform shall be introduced in two steps:

-First, a catalogue shall be created for IT resources on the basis of clear eligibility conditions under which resources may be recorded in the catalogue. The security of the systems, the requirements of the reference architecture and the quality of services and commodities shall be taken into account.

-Second, procurement of these resources shall be completed by MIRRI with the aim to make them available in the necessary quality and quantity to users.

The platform shall provide an evaluation functionality of the value of IT investments by monitoring costs, filings, transactions and returns.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2023.

Investment 1: Better services for citizens and businesses

The objective of this measure is to increase the uptake of eGovernment services.

This measure consists in launching 16 priority life situations and making those available to the public using eGovernment solutions.

Investment 2: Digital transformation of public service delivery

The objective of this measure is to digitalise the public administration.

This measure consists in digitalising processes of 34 sections in the public administration.

Reform 3: Managing the digital transformation of the economy and society

This reform shall introduce a new governance structure for reforms and investments in the digital economy by engaging competent bodies at different levels. At the political level, the Government Council for Digitalisation of Public Administration and Digital Single Market as the advisory, coordination and initiative body of the Government on issues related to digitalisation shall monitor the implementation and realisation of reforms and projects in the area of digital economy. At the working level, the Digital Agenda Section of the MIRRI shall work to ensure implementation of reforms and investments, as well as meeting the set milestones and targets. At the assessment level, the analytical unit of MIRRI shall ensure thematic consistency of the interventions with the priorities of strategic policies/documents (RIS3, SACI, 2030 Digital Transformation Strategy for Slovakia). At the consulting level, the Working Group on the Digital Transformation of Slovakia shall assist the Digital Agenda Section of MIRRI in implementing reforms and investments in the digital economy.

As part of this reform, the MIRRI shall adopt a new strategic document – Action Plan for the Digital Transformation of Slovakia for years 2023-2026.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 June 2026.

Investment 3: Engaging in European multi-country projects related to the digital economy

The objective of this measure is to increase Slovakia’s competitiveness in the digital economy. This measure consists in commissioning a supercomputer, creating a network of European digital innovation hubs in Slovakia and supporting Slovakia’s participation in European multi-country projects.

The RRF shall support part of the costs of this investment. This investment may also receive support from other Union programmes or instruments for costs that are not supported by the RRF.

Investment 4: Support for projects aiming at the development of digital technologies and infrastructure

The objective of this measure is to develop digital technologies and infrastructure.

This measure consists in granting support to projects under directly managed EU programmes, or projects selected at national level.

The RRF shall support part of the costs of this investment. This investment may also receive support from other Union programmes or instruments for costs that are not supported by the RRF.

Investment 5: Hackathons

The objective of this measure is to design digital solutions to address societal challenges.

This measure consists in organising hackathons in collaboration with public administration bodies and involving representatives of the following categories: start-ups, other companies, research institutions, universities and their students, or other specialists.

Reform 4: Standardisation of technical and procedural cybersecurity solutions (ITVS – Information technologies for public administration)

Current cybersecurity requirements in the public administration diverge in terms of their elaboration, quality and clarity. Individualised cybersecurity solutions lead to higher overall costs, as well as ambiguities for a number of service operators. Moreover, applicable methodological guidelines for cybersecurity are outdated and not fit for purpose in a rapidly changing cyber-threat environment. The objective of this reform is to update applicable cybersecurity requirements and increase standardization of solutions for all entities of the public administration.

Specifically, the reform shall lead to the development of a single methodological framework for cybersecurity; the creation of a procedural manual for assessment cybersecurity; creation of a central expert support for implementation of cybersecurity measures; the definition of categories of organisations for the purposes of cybersecurity; definition of basic requirements of cybersecurity protection in the public administration.

The National Concept for Informatisation of Public Administration (NKIVS) shall set the framework of standardisation for cyber security requirements.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Reform 5: Cybersecurity training and skills (ITVS – Information technologies for public administration)

The objective of this measure is to enhance cybersecurity skills in the public administration.

This measure consists in delivering cybersecurity trainings and establishing competence centers.

Investment 6: Preventive measures, speed of incident detection and resolution (ITVS – Information technologies for public administration)

The objective of this measure is to increase the cybersecurity resilience and security of critical infrastructure of the public administration.

This measure consists in further expanding an early response system for the cybersecurity of the public administration and in reconstructing and/or replacing elements (e.g. technical and physical infrastructure and equipment) of secured spaces for critical infrastructure.

Reform 6: A strategic approach to education in digital skills in cooperation with representatives of key stakeholders

This reform shall draw up a coherent national strategy for the development of digital skills through life-long-learning, covering people in productive and post-productive age. The strategy shall be prepared by the MIRRI in cooperation with competent Ministries and representatives of key stakeholders.

The strategy shall include an analysis of the state of play of digital skills in Slovakia, an identification of existing barriers to their development, a learning vision for the next period, as well as recommendations of measures for public authorities to improve the situation and meet the targets. The strategy shall also propose a long-term sustainable funding and support system for digital skills, while also aiming to create an attractive environment to prevent brain drain and attract foreign experts and researchers.

The reform shall be completed by 31 December 2022.

Investment 7: Digital skills of seniors or disadvantaged people

The objective of this measure is to train seniors or disadvantaged people to acquire digital skills.

This measure consists in delivering digital skills trainings for seniors or disadvantaged people and equipping each participant with digital equipment.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Base-line	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	17 – Digital Slovakia - Reform 1: Creating eGovernment solutions for priority life situations	Milestone	Investment plan for priority life situations	Publication of the priority list approved by the MIRRI				Q4	2022	Publication of the list of priority electronic services approved by the MIRRI SR, based on the eGOV benchmark and taking into account the Annex II of the Single Digital Gateway Regulation.
2	17 – Digital Slovakia - Reform 1: Creating eGovernment solutions for priority life situations	Milestone	Roadmap of the priority life situations	Publication of the roadmap				Q4	2023	Analysis of service design and identification of deficiencies (roadmap) for their improvement through all public institutions concerned
3	17 – Digital Slovakia - Reform 2: Central management of IT resources	Milestone	Central platform for the use of IT resources (digital market place)	Launch of the platform				Q4	2023	Entry into service of a platform of tools and policies for a new way to buy and use IT commodities, expertise, use of cloud services and open source code. The services shall be procured centrally (framework contract) and the users of the services shall have the possibility to dynamically draw on the central platform as needed.
5	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 1: Better services for citizens and businesses	Target	Number of priority life situations launched and made available to the public using eGovernment solutions		Number	0	16	Q2	2026	Launch of 16 priority life situations that shall be made available to the public using eGovernment solutions. Each priority life situation shall bring the following benefits to the citizens: proactive steps from the state towards the citizen, new or simplified electronic application forms, process simplification (eliminating or automating steps in the process), centralized access to information, two-way communication with the public and where relevant a mobile version and online payments. Each eGovernment solution shall deploy or bring changes to backend, middleware, frontend or the technical infrastructure supporting it.
8	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 2: Digital transformation of public service delivery	Target	Digital transformation of processes of sections in the public administration		Number	0	34	Q2	2026	The processes of 34 sections in the public administration shall be digitalised by a) providing a new digital solution or b) upgrading the existing digital solution.
9	17 – Digital Slovakia - Reform 3: Managing the digital transformation of the economy and society	Milestone	Action Plan for the Digital Transformation of Slovakia for years 2023-2026	Development and adoption by the MIRRI				Q4	2022	Adoption by the MIRRI of a new strategic document – Action Plan for the Digital Transformation of Slovakia for years 2023-2026. The Action Plan shall put forward actions to improve Slovakia's digital performance, building on 2030 Digital Transformation Strategy for Slovakia and building on the current 2019-2022 roadmap.
10	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 3: Engaging in European multi-country projects related to the digital economy	Target	Number of Digital Innovation Hubs/ European Digital Innovation Hubs		Number	0	5	Q3	2022	This target shall be achieved through: 1. Building a network of four of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) in Slovakia that shall provide services to businesses to support the deployment of new technologies and innovation. They shall participate in the pan-European network of EDIHs. The candidates for establishing the four EDIHs were nominated in September 2020. 2.In addition to the 4 EDIHs, at least one additional centre shall be set up following one of the two options: (a) EDIH without financial support from the Digital Europe programme, which shall be awarded the Seal of Excellence in the EC competition; or (b) a local DIH that shall be selected under the national scheme and is expected to complement the network of existing EDIHs.
11	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 3: Engaging in European multi-country projects related to the digital economy	Milestone	Supercomputer for the Slovak Republic	Commissioning of a supercomputer				Q4	2025	The commissioning of computing infrastructure with two HPC clusters achieving a combined computing capacity of at least 24 petaFLOPs. The supercomputer shall achieve an energy efficiency value higher than 60 GFLOPs/Watt for the most efficient part of the supercomputer.
12	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 3: Engaging in European multi-country projects related to the digital economy	Target	Disbursement of EUR 8 711 034.58		EUR	0	8 711 034.58	Q2	2026	Participation in two multi-country digital projects from the following set proposed by the European Commission: Security Operation Centres, MediaInvest, European Blockchain Services Infrastructure, EuroQCI, 5G Corridors, Common European Data Infrastructure, Processors and Semiconductor chips, Connected Public Administration, Genome of Europe, or Digital Skills. At least EUR 8 711 034.58 shall be paid to the two projects under this target in order to support Slovakia’s engagement in European multicountry projects related to the digital economy. Any amounts provided by other Union programmes or instruments shall not be counted towards this amount.
13	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 4: Support for projects aiming at the development of digital technologies and infrastructure	Milestone	Design of support scheme for development and application of digital technologies	Launch of a support scheme				Q2	2022	A support scheme for research and development of digital solutions shall be set up and published by the implementation unit of the MIRRI for small and medium sized enterprises, large companies, private R&D institutions, public R&D institutions including academia and Slovak Academy of Sciences, non-governmental and non-profit organizations, media, public institutions including municipalities and other eligible applicants. The scheme shall also serve as a co-funding mechanism for projects that succeed in directly managed EU programmes (Digital Europe, Horizon Europe and the Connecting Europe Facility). Priority shall be given to successful projects based on an IPCEI assessment by the European Commission. Projects shall also be assessed on the basis of the priority areas defined in dimension 4 (Digital Transformation of Slovakia) in the Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3).
14	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 4: Support for projects aiming at the development of digital technologies and infrastructure	Target	Disbursement of EUR 7 908 365.43		EUR	0	7 908 365.43	Q2	2026	At least EUR 7 908 365.43 shall be paid to projects in order to support the development of digital technologies and infrastructure. Any amounts provided by other Union programmes or instruments shall not be counted towards this amount.
15	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 4: Support for projects aiming at the development of digital technologies and infrastructure	Target	Number of projects for the development of digital technologies		Number	0	44	Q2	2026	Contracts shall be signed to provide financial support for 44 projects for the development of digital technologies under RIS 3 strategy Domain 3.
16	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 5: Hackathons	Target	Number of organised hackathons		Number	0	17	Q3	2025	17 hackathons shall be organised. The hackathons shall involve a public administration body and representatives of the following categories: start-ups, other companies, research institutions, universities and their students, or other specialists. Winning teams shall provide their solutions to the public administration. Contracts shall be signed with the public administration bodies to provide them with funds for the implementation of the solutions of the hackathons.
17	17 – Digital Slovakia - Reform 5: Cybersecurity training and skills (ITVS – Information technologies for public administration)	Target	Number of IT staff in the public administration trained in cybersecurity		Number	29	600	Q2	2026	Training in cybersecurity of 571 IT staff in the public administration. The reform shall also include: - establishing at least 3 competence centres in cybersecurity in universities, which shall engage in international cooperation with international authorities in cyber and hybrid threats; - establishing a cybersecurity awareness programme and complementary training for public administration staff; and - making available a methodology for setting-up of cybersecurity units in public administration entities.
18	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 6: Preventive measures, speed of incident detection and resolution (ITVS – Information technologies for public administration)	Target	Number of secured IT systems in the public administration		Number	70	1 000	Q4	2024	Securing of 930 IT systems. The IT systems shall be integrated into the Cybersecurity Incident Management System, which is part of the Early Warning System (EWS). For each IT system the necessary hardware/software elements, bidirectional encrypted communication, and warning dispatch shall be secured. New technological solutions of the early warning system shall be integrated into the cybersecurity incident management infrastructure. A threat catalogue shall be set up and a methodology for cybersecurity management shall be drafted.
19	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 6: Preventive measures, speed of incident detection and resolution (ITVS – Information technologies for public administration)	Milestone	Security audits of IT systems and applications in the public administration and reconstruction of secured spaces for critical infrastructure	Deployment of a new tool and penetration tests				Q1	2026	Deployment of a new audit tool which shall systematically assess the cybersecurity vulnerability of IT systems. Cybersecurity vulnerability of IT applications shall be assessed by penetration tests. Elements (e.g. technical and physical infrastructure or equipment) of 50 secured spaces for critical infrastructure shall be reconstructed and/or replaced.
20	17 – Digital Slovakia - Reform 6: A strategic approach to education in digital skills in cooperation with representatives of key stakeholders	Milestone	National Digital Skills Strategy	Approval of the Digital Skills Strategy by the Slovak Government and publication				Q4	2022	The strategy shall focus on persons in productive and post-productive age and shall include an analysis of the state of play, a definition of existing barriers and a vision of education for the next period and of life-long learning in line with the OECD 2020 recommendations, as well as a proposal for measures and recommendations for public administrations to improve the status quo and meet the targets set. The measures shall be financed from other sources than the RRF.
21	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 7: Digital skills of seniors or disadvantaged people	Target	Number of seniors and disadvantaged people trained in basic digital skills		Number	0	1 000	Q2	2022	Implementation of a pilot project to validate the proposed activities and solutions to increase digital skills among a sample of 1 000 seniors and disadvantaged persons. This shall be achieved by completion of a training program followed by distribution of subsidised equipment. The results of the pilot project shall be assessed and lead to a decision on the form of the continuation of the project.
22	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 7: Digital skills of seniors or disadvantaged people	Target	Number of seniors and disadvantaged people trained in digital skills and having received a digital equipment		Number	1 000	100 440	Q2	2026	Following the pilot project, train 99 440 seniors or disadvantaged people to acquire digital skills. This shall be achieved through the delivery of training programmes and distribution of subsidised equipment for each person, together with distribution of vouchers for internet access provision. A specialised application for seniors shall be created.
23	17 – Digital Slovakia - Reform 4: Standardisation of technical and procedural cybersecurity solutions (ITVS – Information technologies for public administration)	Milestone	National Concept for Informatisation of Public Administration (NKIVS) 2021-2030	Adoption and approval of the National Concept for Informatisation of Public Administration by the MIRRI and publication				Q4	2021	The National Concept for Informatisation of Public Administration (NKIVS) shall set the framework for digital reforms in a synchronised manner with the RRP. The individual actions and projects of the RRP shall implement the relevant strategic tasks of the NKIVS. The NKIVS shall set the framework of standardisation for cyber security requirements. Further actions would be necessary for setting the cyber security technical and procedural standards.

COMPONENT 18: Sound, sustainable and competitive public finances

Slovakia faces high fiscal sustainability risks due to a combination of an ageing population, a fiscally unsustainable pension system, and a fiscal policy framework that does not sufficiently incentivise fiscal sustainability. Moreover, the revenue potential of environmental and property taxation is underused relative to other EU countries.

The objective of this component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan is to improve the sustainability, soundness and competitiveness of public finances by means of three reform elements, namely a pension reform, multi-annual expenditure ceilings, and a reform of public investment management.

The component thereby contributes to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2019.1 to safeguard the long-term sustainability of public finances, in particular of the pension system, and to addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2020.1 to pursue fiscal policies aimed at achieving prudent medium-term fiscal positions and ensuring debt sustainability when economic conditions allow. It also helps addressing Country Specific Recommendation 2020.3 and Country Specific Recommendation 2019.3 to front-load mature public investment projects as well as to focus investment in specific areas.

Reform 1: Improving the sustainability of the pension system

Slovakia’s public finances face high sustainability risks both in the medium and long term. This is in part due to rapid population ageing. The old-age dependency ratio (comparing the share of elderly people with the share of the population in work or training) is projected to almost triple by 2060. Retirement age caps exacerbate the implications for long-term fiscal sustainability. In addition, savings in the second pillar of the pension system are inefficient and yield low returns, while awareness in the population is low.

The pension reform shall improve the long-term fiscal sustainability of the pension system. To this end, it shall link the retirement age to life expectancy, and abolish retirement age caps. It shall moreover ensure entitlement to an actuarially neutral benefit after a minimum number of years worked and introduce a new default, life-cycle based savings strategy in the second pension pillar investing less in low-yield bonds, with an opt-out option, to increase the efficiency of savings in the second pillar. It shall also increase transparency by regularly informing people about their expected pensions.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 March 2023.

Reform 2: Introducing multi-annual expenditure ceilings

Slovakia’s medium-term budgetary framework has not been conducive to sufficient fiscal discipline. Slovakia has not managed to pursue a counter-cyclical fiscal policy in good economic times. This weighs on medium- and long-term fiscal sustainability.

This reform therefore shall enhance fiscal discipline in order to improve medium- and long-term fiscal sustainability. To this end, binding multi-annual expenditure ceilings shall be introduced as a key tool to better pursue counter-cyclical fiscal policy, improve budgetary planning and achieve long-term fiscal sustainability. These expenditure ceilings shall be linked to planned structural balances linked to long-term sustainability objectives. It shall be implemented in the Stability Programme 2022-2025 in April 2022 to capture the full budgetary cycle for 2023.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2021.

Reform 3: Streamlining public investment

The objective of this reform is to improve the quality of significant public investments, to improve budgetary planning and execution and to streamline the prioritization of public investments.

This reform consists of the introduction of a harmonized methodology for the assessment of significant public investments which is to be evaluated centrally by the Ministry of Finance and from an early stage.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Baseline	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	18 – Sound, sustainable and competitive public finances – Reform 1: Improving the sustainability of the pension system	Milestone	Pension system reform	Entry into force of the package of amendments (No 461/2003 Coll. on social insurance and No 43/2004 Coll. on old-age pension savings)				Q1	2023	Entry into force of the package by the parliament (Social Insurance Act and Old-Age Pension Savings Act) by the end of Q4 2022 with effect from Q1 2023, which is expected to improve the long-term financial sustainability of the pension system, namely:1) linking increases in retirement age to increasing life expectancy, 2) introducing an entitlement to actuarially neutral benefits from the first pay-as-you-go pension pillar for persons after a statutory minimum number of years of service, 3) introducing a default savings strategy based on the lifecycle principle for new and progressively existing savers in Pillar II (with the possibility of rejecting this default strategy)
2	18– Sound, sustainable and competitive public finances – Reform 2: Introducing expenditure ceilings	Milestone	Anchoring expenditure ceilings in Law 523/2004 on the budgetary rules	Entry into force of the amendment to the act 523/2004 on the budgetary rules				Q4	2021	Entry into force of the multi-annual ceilings on public expenditure and its implementation in the Stability Programme 2022-2025 in April 2022 to capture the full budgetary cycle for 2023.
3	18 – Healthy, sustainable and competitive public finances – Reform 3: Reform of public investment management	Milestone	application of the methodology for the procedures for preparing and prioritising investments	Prior evaluation of the public investment projects carried out in line with adopted methodolology				Q2	2026	The prior evaluation of all new public investment projects above EUR 40 million (or EUR 10 million in the IT sector) shall be carried out according to the harmonized published methodology. Evaluations shall be carried out centrally by the Ministry of Finance and published. Implementation shall be documented through the adopted legislation and the published methodology in line with the value for money principles.

COMPONENT 19: REPowerEU

The objective of the REPowerEU component of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan is to reduce the overall dependence on fossil fuels imports from Russia and increase energy security. In particular, the investments into energy infrastructure, together with measures on permitting processes, energy efficiency of buildings, zero-emission transport and the promotion of green skills, are expected to contribute to reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and integrating renewables into the Slovak energy mix faster and more widely.

Of the 14 measures in the Slovak REPowerEU chapter, eight have a cross-border dimension. The largest investment with a cross-border or multi-country dimension concerns the modernisation and digitalisation of electricity transmission and distribution networks (Investment 1), with the aim of upgrading 250 km of transmission lines to help maintain the transmission of electricity generated by renewables across Europe. Measures on increasing energy efficiency in renovations of buildings, including the restoration of historical buildings or the refurbishment of single family households, also have a relevant cross-border dimension as they are expected to contribute to reducing the demand of imported fossil fuels. Measures on increasing energy efficiency in renovations of buildings (Investment 3), including the restoration of historical buildings or the refurbishment of single-family houses, also have a relevant cross-border dimension as they are expected to contribute to reducing the demand of imported fossil fuels.

The REPowerEU chapter contributes to addressing recommendations to increase public investment in the green and digital transition and energy security as well the recommendation on the reduction of the overall reliance on fossil fuels and diversification of energy imports. Specifically, through Thematic Areas 1 and 2, the implementation of the REPowerEU chapter is expected to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources through simplified grid access, streamlining and simplifying permitting and administrative procedures, modernising the electricity system, as well as adapting, accelerating and supporting building renovations.

A.1. Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Thematic area 1: Renewable Energy and permitting processes

This thematic area comprises of two reforms, the first on promoting sustainable energy and second on supporting the green transition in renewables. The objective of these reforms is to simplify permitting and administrative procedures for further development of renewable energy sources, including the digitalisation of processes and creating pilot “go-to areas” suitable for wind energy development. The reform also includes the necessary upgrading of skills and strengthening of administrative capacity, both necessary to address bottlenecks linked to the rollout of renewable energy sources.

The objective of the investments is to further develop and modernise the electricity transmission system and regional distribution networks, thereby enabling to increase the technical capacity for an accelerated integration of small- and large-scale renewables into the grid. The investment into the Energy Data Center is expected to enable the integration of new market participants into the Slovak energy market, in particular in the area of renewable energy investments.

Component 19 - Reform 1: Promoting sustainable energy

The reform includes six sub-measures aimed at creating an environment conducive to rapid and efficient implementation of fossil fuel substitution in Slovakia, through renewable energy and decarbonisation projects.

C19.R1. Sub-measure 1: Legislative and procedural changes speeding up the issuing of environmental permits

The objective of this sub-measure is to simplify and accelerate environmental assessment procedures of proposed or modified renewable energy projects under relevant legislation. The measure consists in the adoption of legislative changes implementing streamlined procedures for proposed projects or their modifications in the field of renewable energy.

C19.R1. Sub-measure 2: Improving the use of geothermal energy

The objective of this sub-measure is to improve the use of geothermal energy in Slovakia. The sub-measure consists in implementing the “passporting” of geothermal wells aimed at determining their geothermal potential.

C19.R1. Sub-measure 3: Heat-pump support

The objective of this sub-measure is to support the rollout of investments into water-to-water heat pumps. This measure consists in the adoption of an amendment of the legislation, introducing an exemption from the obligation to pay a charge for the use of groundwater (with exception of geothermal waters) for energy use for water-to-water heat pumps.

C19.R1. Sub-measure 4: Establishment of BAT centre and provision of BAT reference documents

The objective of this sub-measure is to establish a national competence for Best Available Technology (BAT) to enhance knowledge sharing and coordination on innovative techniques and technologies for decarbonisation, energy efficiency, and environmental protection. It involves managing the BAT agenda and providing access to relevant information, such as BAT reference documents (BREF), to support energy diversification, industry decarbonisation, and circular economy initiatives.

C19.R1. Sub-measure 5: Preparation of an assessment of the trajectories of sustainable use and supply of biomass in Slovakia for period 2025-2035

The objective of this sub-measure aims at promoting the development of sustainable biomass use for energy purposes and assessing the available sustainable biomass volumes and resources in Slovakia. The sub-measure consists in a publication of an assessment of the trajectories of sustainable use of biomass in Slovakia and its impacts on the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sinks and biodiversity for the period up to 2035.

C19.R1. Sub-measure 6: Developing and promoting the production of sustainable bio-methane, organic fertilisers and the circular bio-economy

The objective of this sub-measure is to define Slovakia’s potential for biogas and biomethane production. The sub-measure consists of a delivery of a comprehensive map of production potential for biogas and bio-methane, technology catalogues, as well as a circular bio-economy roadmap identifying the appropriate areas for the development of a circular bio-economy. It also consists in introducing measures to remove identified barriers for the permitting and production or injection of the biomethane into the grid and use of biomethane plant residues as fertilizers.

Component 19. Reform 2: Supporting the green transition in renewables

This reform is composed of three sub-measure and one investment with two sub-parts. The objective of this reform is to accelerate the deployment of new renewable energy sources in Slovakia.

C19.R2. Sub-measure 1: Development of methodologies and establishment of pilot ‘go-to areas’ suitable for wind energy development

The objective of the sub-measure is to increase the potential for investment into wind-power in Slovakia. This measure consists of introducing specific simplified permitting procedures for the development of installations within ‘go-to areas’ and establishing pilot ‘go-to areas’.

C19.R2. Sub-measure 2: Action Plan of the National Hydrogen Strategy of the Slovak Republic and enabling conditions for the development of hydrogen economy in Slovakia

The objective of this sub-measure is to define promote targets for the use of hydrogen as well as to set out priorities for the development of a primarily renewable national hydrogen ecosystem., based on hydrogen production balance scenarios, hydrogen consumption and hydrogen import and export balances within the European hydrogen transmission network. This sub-measure consists of the adoption of the Hydrogen Action Plan, a strategic document on the Slovak hydrogen ecosystem, and entry into force of legislative measures and technical norms.

C19.R2. Sub-measure 3: Integration of renewables into the electricity grid

The objective of the sub-measure is to improve the use of available electricity grid capacity and contribute to a faster rollout of renewable energy investments in Slovakia.

This sub-measure consists in establishing new rules and procedures for grid connection binding to all three regional Distribution System Operators in the territory of the Slovak Republic.

C19. Investment 1: Modernisation and digitalisation of transmission system and regional distribution systems

The objective of investment 1 of the REPowerEU chapter, consisting of two parts, is to contribute to the modernisation and digitalisation of the electricity networks in Slovakia. In particular, it shall help to accommodating the expected increase in intermittent renewables.

Investment 1 - part 3: The objective of this investment is to make the Slovak electricity distribution system more robust, also in view of raising volumes of RES connections. The measure consists in implementing investments into modernisatrion of the electricity networks at distribution level in Slovakia.

Investment 1 - part 4: supports implementation of information system of the Energy Data Centre (EDC).

This investment reacts to changes in the Slovak legal framework, in particular to amendment of the Act on Energy (251/2012 Coll.) effective as of 1st of October 2022 as part of the recovery and resilience plan. The EDC is expected to facilitate the new activities and access of the new market participants into the electricity market while helping them to safeguard their rights in the new market environment.

The aim of the investment is to implement the EDC’s information system to ensure its efficient operation in order to allow for a better integration of renewable energy sources into the grid. The EDC shall improve the preconditions for the connection of renewable energy sources by streamlining required data. In particular, the investment shall address the issues such as aggregating flexibility; energy communities and sharing energy from RES; accumulation, management of core data; data from smart metering systems; sharing electricity generation data (supporting invoicing, clearing and imbalance settlement) and reporting.

Thematic Area 2: Building renovation and management

Reform 3: Creation of a database and data exchange system on the energy performance of buildings

The objective of this measure is to reduce the energy consumption of public and private buildings. This measure consists in introducing a digital platform for collecting, processing, storing and sharing data on the energy performance of buildings which will help accelerate and prioritise investments in building renovation.

Reform 4: Management of central government buildings

The objective of this measure is to create the framework for an efficient management of central government buildings. This measure consists in creating a strategy for the management of central government buildings and a central coordinating body for administrative buildings of the central government, for increased energy efficiency, more efficient use of building space and strategic and prioritised planning of building renovations and construction.

Investment 2: Increasing the energy efficiency of public buildings

The objective of this measure is to reduce the energy consumption in public buildings. This measure consists in energy efficiency interventions in public buildings.

Investment 3: Renovation of public historical and listed buildings

The objective of this measure is to increase the energy efficiency and improve the structural conditions of historical and listed public buildings. This measure consists in the renovation of at least 130 731 m2 of floor area of additional renovated surface areas of historical and listed public buildings, while achieving, on average, at least 30% of primary energy savings.

Investment 4: Supporting the renovation of households at risk of energy poverty

The objective of this measure is to reduce energy poverty. This measure consists in supporting the renovation of single-family houses of people at risk of energy poverty.

Thematic Area 3: Sustainable transport

The investments aim to top-up measures linked to existing investments in Component 3. The objective of the investments is to support the development of zero-emission transport and relevant infrastructure, including railways and trams. The aim of the investments is to respond to REPowerEU objectives of reducing the consumption of fossil fuels in transport, making the sector more efficient, as well as accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles in public transport through further electrification

Investment 5: Development of low-carbon transport infrastructure

The objective of this measure is to scale up the existing measure under Investment 1 of Component 3, in accordance with Article 21c(2) of the RRF Regulation. The investment consists of reconstruction, upgrade or building of additional of one-way single track electric trolleybus lines in Bratislava.

Investment 6: Promoting clean passenger transport

The objective of this measure is to scale up the existing measure under Investment 2 of Component 3, in accordance with Article 21c(2) of the RRF Regulation. The investment consists of the deployment of additional standard closed electric train units and additional trams.

Thematic Area 4: Green Skills

Reform 6: Skills for green transition

The objective of the measure is to update the current education and training programmes to reflect the current labour market needs for green skills.

This measure consists in adapting the curriculum for secondary vocational schools, updating qualification standards for teacher training, and developing adult training programmes focused on renewable energy sources and electromobility.

Investment 7: schools’ equipment and training

The objective of the measure is to provide secondary vocational school students with access to courses on renewable energy sources and electromobility.

This measure consists in equipping secondary vocational schools with necessary materials and infrastructure and delivering new training modules by school year 2025/26.

Thematic Area 5: Coordination capacities and communication support

Investment 8: The objective of this measure is to carry out communication activities related to the REPowerEU Component.

A.2. Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Seq. Num.	Related measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name	Qualitative indicators (for milestones)	Quantitative indicators (for targets)			Indicative timeline for completion		Description and clear definition of each milestone and target
					Unit of measure	Base-line	Goal	Quarter	Year
1	1 – REPowerEU – Reform 1 – Submeasure 1 – Legislative and procedural changes speeding up the issuing of environmental permits	Target	Technical assistance to accelerate and improve the quality of environmental permitting procedures	Publication of strategic organizational changes of Slovak Environment Inspectorate (SEI) and relevant bodies	Number of full time staff employed.	0	115	Q2	2026	115 additional technical staff provided to accelerate procedures under the EIA Act and subsequent permitting procedures for the issuance of integrated permits for proposed or modified renewables projects. At least 100 of the 115 staff shall work directly on the EIA development consents and subsequent construction permits for renewables. Necessary The changes Adoption of changes in SEI´s organizational structure shall be adopted and publication of strategic documents guiding the Inspectorate´s and regional inspectorate’s office´s activities shall be published.
2	2 – REPowerEU – Reform 1 – Submeasure 1 - Legislative and procedural changes speeding up the issuing of environmental permits	Milestone	Entry into force of legislative and procedural changes	Provision in the laws indicating the entry into force				Q2	2025	Legislative amendments shall streamline procedures for renewable energy projects under the EIA and IPPC Acts by establishing a single process that includes both environmental impact and other assessments, along with a construction permit, creating an integrated permit. Granting a construction permit shall depend on completing development consent procedures. The legislation shall ensure that there is a clearly stipulated right of the public concerned to appeal against decisions issued under the EIA Act. For projects which will not be subject to an integrated procedure, the permitting process shall be simplified by updating and interconnecting existing registries and information systems. The SEI shall become the authority in charge of the above-mentioned single process. The competence to assess the impacts of the proposed or modified activity and issue an integrated permit shall pass to the SEI. To this end, a new competence for the individual authorities within the SEI structure shall be introduced, with the regional inspectorates serving as the first-instance authority and the SEI headquarters designated as the second-instance authority for EIA in relation to renewable energy sources. The threshold values in annexes of the EIA Act shall be amended to accelerate the EIA procedures for geothermal and wind energy. Instead of a mandatory EIA assessment, a screening procedure under the EIA Act shall be required for the installation of individual wind turbines between 0.1 and 1 MW inclusive. For geothermal energy, it shall be subjected to a screening procedure under the EIA Act for wells with a depth of more than 300 m (inclusive). The amended EIA Act shall introduce new binding, enforceable time limits for all procedures under the EIA Act and create a “partially specialised state administration” for procedures under the EIA Act.For all renewables projects with the exception of hydro energy, a mandatory assessment shall take no longer than 8 months and a screening assessment no longer than 3 months.
3	3 – REPowerEU – Reform 1- Sub-measure 2 - Improving the use of geothermal energy	Target	“Passporti-sation” of geothermal wells		Number of “passporti-sed” geothermal wells	0	60	Q2	2026	At least 60 geothermal wells in Slovakia shall be “passportised”. The information on geothermal sites shall be made available to the public at website of the State Geological Institute Dionyza Stura, consisting of the following information: localisation of well, its depth, technical status, water parameters and geothermal use potential.
4	4 – REPowerEU – Reform 1- Sub-measure 3- Heat pump support	Milestone	Entry into force of legislative amendment	Provision in the law indicating the entry into force				Q3	2024	A legislative amendment shall introduce an exemption from the obligation to pay a charge for the use of groundwater (with exception of geothermal waters) for energy use for water-to-water heat pumps.
5	5 – REPowerEU – Reform 1 – Submeasure 4 – Best Available Technology Center	Target	Establishment of Best Available Technology (BAT) centre and provision of BAT reference documents	Establishment of BAT centre and publication of BAT reference documents				Q4	2025	BAT centre shall coordinate and facilitate the exchange of BAT information, new technologies, including areas such as industrial circularity, industrial decarbonisation and energy diversification. BAT documents (BREF) translated into Slovak shall be published and made accesible to the industry and permitting bodies in order to guarantee the transition to cleaner industrial processes.
6	5 - REPowerEU – Reform 1 – Submeasure 5 - Preparation of an assessment of the trajectories of sustainable use and supply of biomass in Slovakia for period 2025-2035	Milestone	Assessment of the trajectories of sustainable use of biomass and supply of biomass in Slovakia	Publication of the assessment				Q2	2025	The Ministry of Environment shall publish the assessment of the trajectories of sustainable use of biomass in Slovakia and its impacts on the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry sinks, biodiversity as well as air quality in Slovakia for the period up to 2035. The impact on air quality shall be assessed to the extent of available data and if relevant, the gaps on data availability shall be identified by the evaluation. The assessment shall provide recommendations to guide future biomass investments. The assessment shall study the state of protected areas and forest ecosystems, the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the cultivation, processing and transportation of the biomass and shall include the impact of imports of biomass from other countries.
7	7- REPowerEU – Reform 1 – Submeasure 6 – Developing and promoting the production of bio-methane, organic fertilizers and the circular bio-economy	Milestone	Developing and promoting the production of bio-methane, organic fertilisers and the circular bio-economy	Publication of the circular bio-economy roadmap, comprehensive map, and two technology catalogues. Entry into force of legislative measures and/or publication of non-legislative measures facilitating biomethane investments.				Q4	2025	The circular bio-economy roadmap shall be published, and it shall: -assess Slovakia´s potential for biogas and biomethaneproduction, -Assess the effective integration of the biomethane into the grid - identify biogas stations suitable for transformation to biomethane production. The transformation shall fall under the scope of a screening EIA permitting procedure. - provide scenarios to reach the identified national potential by 2030 and 2050. A set of legislative or non-legislative measures needed to remove identified barriers for the permitting and production or injection of the biomethane into the grid and use of biomethane plant residues as fertilizers shall enter into force or shall be published, in case of non-legislative measures. Feasibility of using biogenic CO2 shall be addressed. A comprehensive map of production potential for bio-gas and bio-methane, two technology catalogues and one catalogue with measures, and a circular bio-economy roadmap shall be published on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture. The comprehensive map shall include: -collection and updating of data on the quality, quantity and spatial location of biowaste in Slovakia suitable for energy and nutrient recovery; -data about biogas and biomethane plant network, its structural condition and operational parameters. The comprehensive map shall be prepared to serve to both private and public sector investments. A plan providing an investment scenario to reach the identified national potential by 2030 and 2050 shall be introduced, in the connections with the NECPs.
8	8 - REPowerEU – Reform 2- Sub-measure 1 - Adoption of methodologies and 2 pilot areas suitable for wind energy development	Milestone	Entry into force of legislation on ‘go-to areas’ for renewables and adoption of the methodology for the establish-ment of ‘go-to areas’	Provision in the laws indicating the entry into force				Q4	2024	Entry into force of legislation on ‘go-to areas’, introducing specific simplified permitting procedures for the development of installations within such areas. The reform shall also streamline the screening and mandatory assessment procedures (under the EIA Act) related to ‘go-to’ areas. Adoption of the final version of the methodology for the establishment of ‘go-to areas’ suitable for the development of wind energy (“Wind Energy Methodology”), in the form of a Decree. The Wind Energy Methodology shall introduce unified criteria for the selection and assessment of sites suitable areas for wind energy development. The methodology shall also introduce environmental, economical, technical and public participation and grid connectivity criteria for demarcating the go-to areas. The methodology shall be developed in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, including through public consultation and transparent dialogue.
9	9 - REPowerEU – Reform 2- Sub-measure 1 - Adoption of methodologies and establishment of 2 pilot ‘go-to areas’ areas suitable for wind energy development	Target	Establish-ment of pilot ‘go-to areas’ suitable for wind energy development		MW	0	300	Q4	2025	The pilot ‘go-to areas’ for wind energy shall be established in line with the adopted Wind Energy Methodology, with potential overall installed capacity of at least 300 MW. The pilot go-to areas shall include their digital maps (including and not limited to wind speed and wind power, number of wind days, distance from flight paths, buffer zones, bird feeding zones, migration corridors). An authorisation under the EIA Act shall be carried out for the go-to areas for projects and investments on its territory with a view to simplify the permitting procedures for projects within the area.
10	10- REPowerEU – Reform 2 – Sub-measure 2 – Hydrogen Action Plan	Milestone	Publication of Hydrogen Action Plan	Adoption by the Government of the Action Plan				Q2	2024	The Action Plan shall define the priorities of the developing a primarily renewable hydrogen ecosystem in Slovakia, notably analysing the various segments of the Slovak hydrogen economy, in particular aligning the supply and demand of renewable hydrogen with EU legislative framework. The Action Plan shall set out public financing priorities for different segments of the Slovak hydrogen ecosystem and set out timelines for launching relevant funding calls. The Action Plan shall be accompanied by a list of primary legislation, secondary legislation, and binding technical norms which shall be adopted to align with EU legal framework.
11	11- REPowerEU – Reform 2 – Submeasure 2 – Hydrogen Action Plan	Milestone	Measures to promote the uptake of hydrogen	Entry into force of a set of legislative and other measures				Q2	2025	As part of the enabling conditions of the Hydrogen Action Plan, the Slovak authorities shall adopt legislative measures and technical measures for the production of renewable hydrogen, hydrogen storage standards, and for industrial and energy use and for various transport modes. In particular, Slovakia shall amend its legislative framework to set targets for renewable fuels of non-biological origin. The legislative measures shall be adopted by the National Council of the Slovak Republic and shall enter into force by no later than 31 December 2025. The list of measures shall be based on the list of legislative measures, and technical norms accompanied in the Hydrogen Action Plan. The Slovak Government shall adopt a strategic document of hydrogen ecosystem of Slovakia. The strategic document shall set out priorities for the development of the national hydrogen ecosystem and 2050 renewable hydrogen targets based on production balance scenarios, hydrogen consumption and hydrogen import and export balances within the European hydrogen transmission network.
12	11 – REPowerEU – Reform 2- Sub-measure 3- Integration of renewables into the electricity grid	Milestone	Measures streamlining and accelerating the connection of renewables to the grid	Entry into force of a set of mandatory measures addressing five objectives				Q1	2025	The measures, applied by the national authorities or grid operators, shall include: 1/ lowering barriers for connection to the grid through adaptation of rules for the re-release of unused capacities; and at least one of the following: a) specifying the time limits for reservation of grid capacities; b) introduction of financial incentives discouraging the non-utilization of allocated capacities in due time.; 2/ measures increasing transparency of connection process (the connection decisions in particular) through regularly updated online information on available grid connection capacities and other relevant information, both at the level of regional distribution system operators and the transmission system operator. The transparency requirements should be unified across all distribution companies. 3/ harmonisation of rules for connection of renewable installations to the electricity distribution systems across all regional distribution system operators, particularly through a unified process of issuing approvals for grid connection. 4/ adoption of regulatory incentive mechanisms for DSOs by the Regulator of Network Industries to invest in distribution grid development for supporting the grid integration of RES. 5/ introduction of binding time limits for the grid connection procedures for small scale and local renewables.
15	15 – REPowerEU – Investment 1.3.: Modernisation and digitalisation of the transmission system and regional distribution systems – modernisation of distribution systems	Target	Completion of investments into modernisa-tion of distribution networks in the Slovak Republic		MW	0	1 263 MW	Q2	2026	At least 1 263 MW of cumulative additional capacity for connection of renewable energy sources to the distribution networks in Slovakia shall be delivered.
16	16 – REPowerEU – Investment 1.4.: Modernisation and digitalisation of the transmission system and regional distribution systems – the Energy Data Center	Milestone	Entry into operation of the Energy Data Centre	The commissioning of production operation of the Energy Data Centre.				Q3	2024	The Energy Data Centre starts its production operation.
17	17 – REPowerEU – Reform 3: Creation of a database and data exchange system on the energy performance of buildings	Target	Data collection of energy certificates and renovation passports of public buildings		Number	0	2 050	Q2	2026	Data covering energy certificates and building renovation passports for at least 2 050 public buildings, of which at least 500 shall have a floor area above 2 000 m2, shall be collected. The data shall be uploaded to the functional new database. The database shall: - be the central access point to building data at the level of individual buildings, - shall ensure the interoperability with existing national building systems, -and shall allow for the transfer of data to the EU Building Stock Observatory. The reform shall also entail i) an information campaign targeting owners of public buildings to support the uptake of renovations and energy savings and ii) training activities for independent experts in charge of the preparation of building renovation passports.
18	18 – REPowerEU – Reform 4: Management of central government buildings	Milestone	Strategy for the management of central government buildings	Adoption of the strategy by the Government				Q2	2025	The strategy for the management of central government buildings shall define the tools and processes for i) the management of the central government’s building stock and the increase of its utilisation rate; ii) increasing energy efficiency, pursuing energy savings and increasing the use of renewable energy and environmentally friendly solutions, and iii) lowering the overall cost of building use. The strategy shall include an overview of the current regulatory, financial and operational frameworks for state buildings and shall be adopted by the government. The strategy shall also include a study mapping renovation support schemes and instruments together with proposals to optimise them and recommendations for deep renovation and energy management practices.
19	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 4: Management of central government buildings	Milestone	Establish-ment of a central coordinating body for the administrati-ve buildings of the central government	Entry into force of the binding legal act establishing the coordinating body				Q2	2026	The legal act establishing a central coordinating body for the administrative buildings of the central government shall enter into force. The central coordinating body shall have the following duties: property management, binding opinion on renovation policies and the rental and ownership policy, facility management, and issuance of energy management guidelines. This central coordinating body shall be established on the basis of a roadmap and the conclusions formulated in the strategy.
20	20 – REPowerEU – Investment 2: Increasing the energy efficiency of public buildings	Target	Total floor area of buildings with installed energy efficiency measures		Area (m2)	0	437 587	Q2	2026	Energy efficiency interventions shall be put in place in at least 206 public buildings selected through a call, covering a total area of at least 437 587 m2. The call shall require the introduction of at least two of the following energy efficiency interventions: i) window replacement, ii) energy management of the building (such as installation of smart energy metering systems, introduction of energy saving modes, equithermal or zone control in the heating system, installation of thermostats), iii) lighting modernisation and iv) roof or attic thermal insulation. Energy certificates and renovation passports shall be issued and fed into the database under reform 3 (without counting towards the target under reform 3).
21	21 – REPowerEU – Investment 3: Renovation of public historical and listed buildings - SCALE UP measure SK-C[C2]-I[I2]	Target	Renovation of public historical and listed buildings		Area (m2)	99 348	130 731	Q2	2026	At least 31 383 m2 of additional surface area of the historic and listed public buildings shall be renovated to reach the final target of at least 130 731 m2 renovated floor area. The renovations shall comply with the requirements of the open call, which shall define the conditions to achieve on average at least 30% primary energy savings, comply with DNSH principles, and shall allow the execution of other complementary measures. Grants awarded after 1st January 2025 shall not support gas boiler replacements.
22	22 – REPowerEU – Investment 4: Supporting the renovation of households at risk of energy poverty – light renovation scheme	Target	Number of renovated houses of people at risk of energy poverty		number	0	4 080	Q3	2025	At least 4 080 single-family houses of people at risk of energy poverty shall be renovated. The call shall require the installation of at least one of the following measures: thermal insulation, replacement of heating, and RES installations. Support for gas boiler installations shall not be allowed. If biomass boilers are included under the scheme, they shall comply with the requirements of the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). The replacement of obsolete coal/oil/gas/biomass boilers by biomass boilers shall be allowed if replaced by high efficiency biomass boilers in one of the two highest energy efficiency classes under the energy labelling regulation. No replacement of gas boilers by biomass boilers is allowed in Air Quality zones with exceedance of PM10 Limit Values.
23	23 – REPowerEU – Investment 4: Supporting the renovation of households at risk of energy poverty – light renovation scheme	Target	Number of consultations provided		number	0	20 000	Q2	2026	The network of existing regional centres of the Slovak Environmental Agency shall be reinforced by an additional 35 full-time staff and by external experts. The technical assistance shall offer consultations on energy efficiency measures, assistance in the grant application process, or on-site inspection of the renovation object. Consultations shall be provided to 20 000 houses.
24	24 – REPowerEU – Investment 5: Development of low-carbon transport infrastructure, SCALE UP measure SK-C[C3]-I[I1.a]	Target	Length of reconstru-cted or upgraded track infrastructu-re for clean passenger transport (in weighted km)		Length (weighted km)	49.7	51.7	Q2	2026	The reconstruction, upgrade or building of at least 2 weighted km of one-way single track of electric trolleybus lines.
25	25 – REPowerEU – Investment 6: Promoting environmentally friendly passenger transport, SCALE UP measure SK-C[C3]-I[I2]	Target	Number of clean passenger rolling stock procured (weighted)		Number (weighted)	12	20	Q2	2026	Delivery of at least 8 additional weighted clean passenger rolling stocks. The rolling stock shall include: standard closed electric train units (weight factor 1,0) and trams (weight factor 0,3).
26	26 – REPowerEU – Reform 6: Skills for the green transition	Milestone	New training modules in educational programmes of secondary vocational schools and a training programme for teachers and adults	Approval by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic the updated curriculum for secondary vocational schools and the training programme for teachers and adults				Q4	2024	The updated curriculum as well as the teachers’ programme shall be prepared in line with the ESCO (The European Classification of Occupations, Skills ad Competences) classification of the green skills. The updated curriculum shall be approved by secondary vocational schools, the teachers’ programme shall be approved by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic.
29	29 – REPowerEU – Investment 7: schools’ equipment and teachers’ training	Milestone	New training modules in educational programmes of secondary vocational schools provided in the school year 2025/26	Provision of renewable energy sources and electromobility courses in secondary vocational schools				Q4	2025	Modules in the field of renewable energy sources and electromobility shall be provided in 13 secondary vocational schools from school year 2025/26, in equipped and adapted space, by trained teachers.
30	30 – REPowerEU – Investment 8: Part 1 - Communication for REPowerEU chapter implementation SCALE UP measure SK-C[C16]-I[I4]	Target	Number of communica-tion campaigns			0	6	Q2	2026	Delivery of 6 communication campaigns covering the following REPowerEU thematic areas: i) energy and permitting processes of RES; ii) building renovation and management and iii) skills development for the green transition. NIKA shall adopt a communication strategy to guide these activities and campaigns. To support the communication and coordination activities of the REPowerEU Component, NIKA shall hire additional 8 full-time staff for the period between Q3 2023 and Q2 2026 and establish a dedicated behavioural communication team.

2.Estimated total cost of the recovery and resilience plan

The estimated total cost of the recovery and resilience plan of Slovakia is EUR 6 408 465 020.

The estimated total costs of the REPowerEU chapter is EUR 402 896 746. In particular, the estimated total costs of the measures referred to in Article 21c(3), point (a) of Regulation (EU) 2023/435 is EUR 0 whilst the costs of the other measures in the REPowerEU chapter is EUR 402 896 746.

SECTION 2: FINANCIAL SUPPORT

1.Financial contribution

The instalments referred to in Article 2(2) shall be organised in the following manner:

1.First Instalment (non-repayable support):

Sequential Number	Related Measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name
1	1 - Renewable energy sources and energy infrastructure-Reform 1: Adapting the electricity legal framework	Milestone	Release of restrictions on technical capacities for electricity transmission within the Slovak electricity system
2	3 - Sustainable transport-Reform 1: Reform of the preparation of transport investment projects	Milestone	Investment plan for railway infrastructure projects
3	3 - Sustainable transport-Reform 1: Reform of the preparation of transport investment projects	Milestone	Methodology for selecting, preparing and implementing projects for cycling
4	8 - Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions-Reform 4: Reform of the management of universities	Milestone	The reform of the management system of higher education institutions
5	8 - Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions-Reform 5: Concentration of excellent educational and research capacities	Milestone	Start bringing together of universities into larger units
6	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding-Reform 2: Reform of the organisation and funding of non-business research institutions, in particular the Slovak Academy of Sciences	Milestone	Reform of the Slovak Academy of Science (SaS)
7	10 - Attracting and retaining talent-Investment 4: Promoting internationalisation in the academic environment	Milestone	Strategy for internationalisation of universities
8	15 - Judicial reform-Reform 2: Fighting corruption and strengthening the integrity and independence of the judiciary	Milestone	Package of laws to fight corruption and strengthen integrity and independence of the justice system
9	15 - Judicial reform-Reform 1: Reform of the Judicial Map – Legislation	Milestone	Definition of a new judicial map
10	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Reform 2: Modernisation and capacity building of the police force	Milestone	Implementation of organisational changes to police to increase the efficiency of crime detection, investigation and detection of corruption
11	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 4: Strengthening administrative capacity at different levels of government – establishment of a National Implementation and Coordination Authority	Milestone	Audit & controls: legal basis
12	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 4:Strengthening administrative capacity at different levels of government – establishment of a National Implementation and Coordination Authority	Milestone	RRP Repository System: information for monitoring implementation of RRP
13	17 - Digital Slovakia-Reform 4: Standardisation of technical and procedural cybersecurity solutions	Milestone	National Concept for Informatisation of Public Administration (NKIVS) 2021-2030
14	18 - Sound, sustainable and competitive public finances –Reform 2: Introducing expenditure ceilings	Milestone	Anchoring expenditure ceilings in Law 523/2004 on the budgetary rules
		Instalment Amount	EUR 458 277 000

2.Second Instalment (non-repayable support):

Sequential Number	Related Measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name
1	2 - Building renovation- Reform 3: The management of construction waste	Milestone	The amendment to the Waste Act
2	5 - Adapting to climate change – Investment 1: Adapting regions to climate change, focusing on nature conservation and biodiversity development	Target	List of selected projects for the regions of Muránska Planina and Polonina
3	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Investment 1: Removing of barriers of school buildings	Milestone	Introduction of the definition of debarrierisation standard, creation of a debarrierisation manual and mapping of school needs at all levels of education
4	8 - Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions- Reform 2: Introduction of a system of periodic scientific performance evaluation	Milestone	Definition of the system of periodic evaluation of scientific performance introduced in the Law No 172/2005
5	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Reform 1: Reform of governance, evaluation and support in science, research and innovation	Milestone	Reform of the governance and support for research, development and innovation.
6	10 - Attracting and retaining talent- Reform 1: Reform of residence and labour legislation	Milestone	Facilitation of the return to the country and increase of the attractiveness of the country for foreigners with family ties
7	10 - Attracting and retaining talent-Reform 1: Reform of residence and labour legislation	Milestone	Scheme defining a new category of applicants for national visa (D).
8	10 - Attracting and retaining talent- Reform 2: Simplification of the regime for the recognition of qualifications and professional qualifications for the exercise of regulated professions	Milestone	Simplification of the recognition of educational and professional qualifications
9	11 - Modern and accessible healthcare-Reform 1 Optimization of the Hospital Network (UN)	Milestone	Introduction of the hospital network
10	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Reform 2 Reform of the preparation of health investment plans	Milestone	A prioritised investment plan according to the investment evaluation methodology adopted by the Ministry of Health
11	11 - Modern and accessible healthcare- Reform 5 Reform of primary care provision for adults, children and youth	Milestone	The new law on the establishment of the network of general care providers and the introduction of zoning
12	13 - Accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care- Reforming the supervision of social care and providing infrastructure for its implementation	Milestone	Reform of the supervision of social care
13	14 - Improve the business environment- Reform 3: Reform of public procurement – adaptation of legislation	Milestone	Reform of the Public Procurement Procedures Act
14	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Reform 1: Making the fight against corruption and AML more effective	Milestone	Reforms to streamline and improve financial investigations
15	17 - Digital Slovakia- Investment 4: Support for projects aiming at the development of digital technologies and infrastructure	Milestone	Design of support scheme for development and application of digital technologies
16	17 - Digital Slovakia- Investment 7: Digital skills of seniors or disadvantaged people	Target	Number of seniors and disadvantaged people trained in basic digital skills
		Instalment Amount	EUR 814 715 000

3.Third Instalment (non-repayable support):

Sequential Number	Related Measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name
1	1 - Renewable energy sources and energy infrastructure- Reform 1: Adapting the electricity legal framework	Milestone	Reform of electricity market
2	1 - Renewable energy sources and energy infrastructure- Reform 2: The legal framework for promotion of renewable energy sources	Milestone	Framework for supporting the investments into new renewable sources
3	2 - Building renovation- Reform 1: The harmonisation of support mechanisms for the renovation of family houses	Milestone	Implementation plan to mobilize green renovation of family houses
4	2 - Building renovation- Reform 1: Increasing the energy efficiency of family houses	Milestone	Launch of the support schemes to mobilise energy savings and green renovation
5	3 - Sustainable transport- Reform 3: Intermodal freight transport reform	Milestone	Concept and calls for new support schemes
6	3 - Sustainable transport- Reform 4: Introduction of new policies for the long-term promotion of alternative fuels in the transport sector	Milestone	A new package of measures to promote alternative propulsions
7	4 - Decarbonisation of industry- Reform 2: The competitive scheme for greenhouse gas emissions reduction in industry	Milestone	Adoption of the industrial decarbonisation scheme
8	5 - Adapting to climate change – Reform 2: Reforming nature conservation and water management in the countryside	Milestone	More effective application of nature protection measures in landscapes in protected areas and the revitalisation of watercourses
9	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Reform 1: Ensuring conditions for the implementation of compulsory pre-primary education for children aged of five and introducing a legal entitlement to a place in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers from the age of three	Target	Enrollment rate in pre-primary schools for children aged five years
10	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Reform 1:1. Ensuring conditions for the implementation of compulsory pre-primary education for children aged of five and introducing a legal entitlement to a place in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers from the age of three	Milestone	Introduction of legal changes of a compulsory pre-primary education for children aged of five and introduction a legal entitlement to a place in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers from the age of three.
11	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Reform 2: Definition of the concept of special educational needs of children and pupils and development of a model for eligible support measures in education and education, including their funding system	Milestone	Adoption of the law on redefinition of the concept of special educational needs and the preparation of accompanying methodological material for teaching staff, specialist staff and school leaders.
12	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Reform 6: Compensatory measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in education for primary and secondary school pupils	Target	Number of pupils taking part in tuition programmes
13	8 - Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions- Investment 1: support for the strategic development of universities	Milestone	At least 2 calls concluded for supporting the strategic development of universities
14	8 - Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions- Reform 1: Change in funding for universities, including the introduction of performance contracts	Milestone	Introduction of performance contracts
15	8 - Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions- Reform 2: Introduction of a system of periodic scientific performance evaluation	Target	Number of Performed evaluations
16	8 - Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions- Reform 3: A new approach to accreditation of higher education	Target	Percentage of universities apply to check the compliance of internal quality systems and study programmes with standards
17	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Reform 1: Reform of governance, evaluation and support in science, research and innovation	Milestone	Design of the National overarching RDI Strategy
18	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 1: Promoting international cooperation and participation in Horizon Europe and EIT projects	Milestone	Launch of calls for projects to support the participation of Slovak actors in Horizon Europe
19	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 2: Support for cooperation between firms, academia and RD organisations	Milestone	Launch of calls for projects to support cooperation between companies, academia and R & D organisations and vouchers
20	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 3: Excellent science	Milestone	Launch of calls to support excellent researchers
21	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 4: Research and innovation to decarbonise the economy	Milestone	Launch of calls for thematic demand-driven projects addressing the challenges of green transition
22	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 5: Research and innovation for the digitalisation of the economy	Milestone	Launch of calls for thematic demand-driven projects addressing the challenges of digital transition
23	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 4: Strengthening administrative capacity at different levels of government – establishment of a National Implementation and Coordination Authority	Milestone	Minimising implementation risk by establishing a coordination, financial and implementing body (NIKA) for the Recovery and Resilience Facility
24	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 2: Equipping and digitalizing the police force – renewal of the vehicle fleet	Target	Purchase of new vehicles (10 % of the fleet) of electric and hybrid vehicles
25	17 - Digital Slovakia- Investment 3: Engaging in European multi-countryprojects related to the digital economy	Target	Number of Digital Innovation Hubs in Slovakia/ European Digital Innovation Hub creating a network
26	17 - Digital Slovakia- Reform 1: Creating eGovernment solutions for priority life situations	Milestone	Investment plan for priority life situations
27	17 - Digital Slovakia- Reform 3: Managing the digital transformation of the economy and society	Milestone	Action Plan for the Digital Transformation of Slovakia for years 2023-2026
28	17 - Digital Slovakia- Reform 6: A strategic approach to education in digital skills in cooperation with representatives of key stakeholders	Milestone	National Digital Skills Strategy
		Instalment Amount	EUR 814 715 000

4.Fourth Instalment (non-repayable support):

Sequential Number	Related Measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name
1	3 - Sustainable transport- Reform 1: Reform of the preparation of transport investment projects	Milestone	The amendment to the Railways Act and related regulations on transport infrastructure parameters
2	3 - Sustainable transport- Reform 2: Public passenger transport reform	Milestone	New law on public passenger transport
3	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Reform 2: Definition of the concept of special educational needs of children and pupils and development of a model for eligible support measures in education and education, including their funding system	Milestone	Entry into force the redefinition of the concept of special educational needs
4	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Reform 3: Reforming the system of counselling and prevention and ensuring systemic data collection in the field of mental health promotion for children, pupils and students	Milestone	Entry into force of the legislation that create the comprehensive system of counselling
5	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Reform 4: Implementation of tools to prevent early school leaving and adapt F-type study programmes	Milestone	Entry into force of legislative amendments aimed at: Extension of the possibility to acquire lower secondary education in lower secondary vocational education (VET) optimisation of NSOV programmes in response to labour market needs and the offer of NSOV programmes in relation to the educational needs of the target group of pupils
6	7 - Education for 21 Century- Reform 1: Education content and form reform – Curricular and textbook reform	Milestone	Approval of the final version of the new curriculum for all primary and lower-secondary schools organized in multiannual education cycles
7	7 - Education for 21 Century- Reform 2: Preparing and developing teachers for new content and form of teaching	Milestone	Entry into force the legislative changes to strengthen the quality of skills of teaching and professional staff and motivate them for lifelong professional development
8	11 – Modern and accessible healthcare – Reform 4 Optimisation of the acute healthcare network and new definition of emergency healthcare	Milestone	Amendment to the law on Optimal ambulance network and new definition of emergency healthcare
9	13 - Accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care- Reform of integration and financing of long-term social and health care	Milestone	New legislative framework for long-term health and palliative care
10	14 - Improve the business environment- Reform 1: Reducing the regulatory burden on business	Milestone	introduction of the new regulatory burden reduction tools: —Implementation of the “1in-2out” rule – Introduction of ex-post evaluation of existing regulations (legislative and non-legislative materials) – Introduction of protection against unjustified goldplating
11	14 - Improve the business environment- Reform 3: Reform of public procurement – digitalisation of public procurement processes	Milestone	Digitalisation of public procurement processes through a single electronic platform.
12	14 - Improve the business environment- Reform 2: Reform of the insolvency framework – adaptation of legislation	Milestone	Reform of the insolvency framework
13	15 - Judicial reform- Reform 1: Reform of the Judicial Map – Legislation	Milestone	The introduction of the new court network
14	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - - Reform 3: Optimising crisis management	Milestone	Entry into force of the optimised crisis management
15	18 - Sound, sustainable and competitive public finances – Reform 1: Improving the sustainability of the pension system	Milestone	Pension system reform
		Instalment Amount	EUR 923 828 000

5.Fifth Instalment (non-repayable support):

Sequential Number	Related Measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name
1	2 - Building renovation- Reform 2: Increasing transparency and streamlining decisions of the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic	Milestone	Methodologies for the decision-making process of the Monuments Board of the Slovak republic
2	3 - Sustainable transport- Reform 2: Public passenger transport reform	Milestone	Implementation of optimised rail transport timetable
3	4 - Decarbonisation of industry- Reform 1: The termination of coal-based electricity production at Nováky power plant and transformation of the Upper Nitra region	Milestone	Transition away from coal at the Upper Nitra region
4	5 – Adaptation to climate change – Reform 1: Land planning reform	Milestone	The Land Planning Reform
5	5 - Adapting to climate change – Investment 1: Adapting regions to climate change, focusing on nature conservation and biodiversity development	Target	Property settlement with private landowners (in Area of land settled in ha)
6	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Reform 5: Supporting school desegregation	Milestone	Adoption of legislative amendments that introduce of the definition of at schools in the legislation and the development of methodological material for the implementation of desegregation
7	7 - Education for 21 Century- Reform 2: Preparing and developing teachers for new content and form of teaching	Target	Percentage of teachers trained especially in preparation for the new curriculum inclusive education and digital skills
8	8 - Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions- Reform 1: Change in funding for universities, including the introduction of performance contracts	Target	Performance contracts signed with public universities (in percentage)
9	8 – Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions – Investment 1: support for the strategic development of universities	Milestone	At least 2 calls concluded for supporting the strategic development of universities
10	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 3: Excellent science	Target	Number of excellent researchers supported
11	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 6: Financial instruments to support innovation	Milestone	Launch and implementation of financial instruments to support innovation
12	11 - Modern and accessible healthcare- Reform 3: Centralization of the management of the largest hospitals	Milestone	Establishment of a central hospital management body from an organisational, operational and economic point of view
13	13 – Accessible and high -quality long -term socio - health care – Reform 1: Available and quality long -term socio -health care – Reform of integration and financing of long - term social and health care	Milestone	Publication of the concept of financing social services for public debate
14	13 - Accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care – Reform 2: Assessment of care needs	Milestone	Unification of the assessment system
15	13 – Accessible and high -quality long -term socio - health care - Reform 3: Reforming the supervision of social care and providing infrastructure for its implementation	Target	Establishment of a unified supervisory system with headquarter and 8 branches
16	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 1: Tools and capacity for the fight against corruption and money laundering	Milestone	Providing necessary Infrastructure to support the fight against money laundering and corruption
17	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 1: Tools and capacity for the fight against corruption and money laundering	Target	Retraining police officers in financial investigations and analytical activities
18	17 - Digital Slovakia- Reform 1: Creating eGovernment solutions for priority life situations	Milestone	Roadmap of the priority life situations
19	17 - Digital Slovakia- Reform 2: Central management of IT resources	Milestone	Central platform for the use of IT resources (digital marketplace)
20	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 2 – Sub-measure 2: Hydrogen Action Plan	Milestone	Publication of Hydrogen Action Plan
21	19 – REPowerEU – Investment 1.4: Modernisation and digitalisation of the transmission system and regional distribution systems – the Energy Data Centre	Milestone	Entry into operation of the Energy Data Centre
		Instalment Amount	EUR 570 388 736

6.Sixth Instalment (non-repayable support):

Sequential Number	Related Measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name
1	6 – Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education – Reform 1:1. Ensuring conditions for the implementation of compulsory pre-primary education for children aged of five and introducing a legal entitlement to a place in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers from the age of three	Milestone	Entry into force of new prescriptive funding system for pre-primary education based on the real staff and operational costs of the facility concerned, as well as the achievement of the enrolment rate of children aged four years.
2	7 - Education for 21 Century- Reform 1: Education content and form reform	Target	Creation of a network of regional centres of support
3	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 5: Research and innovation for the digitalisation of the economy	Target	Number of RDI projects selected under the calls addressing the challenges of digital transformation.
4	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 2: Support for cooperation between firms, academia and RD organisations	Target	Number of collaborative projects and vouchers
5	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 4: Research and innovation to decarbonise the economy	Target	Number of selected projects addressing the challenges of the green transition
6	10 – Attracting and retaining talents - Investment 1: Support tools and assistance for specific target groups	Target	Number of one-stop shops for integration in Slovakia
7	10 - Attracting and retaining talent- Investment 1: Support tools and assistance for specific target groups	Target	Number of beneficiaries using the IOM Migration Information Centre
8	10 - Attracting and retaining talent- Investment 3: Scholarships for domestic and foreign talented students	Target	Number of awarded scholarships for talented students
9	11 - Modern and accessible healthcare- Investment 3: Digitalisation in health	Target	Increase in the provision of atrial fibrillation surgeries
10	14 - Improve the business environment- Investment 1: Reducing regulatory burden on business	Milestone	Reduction of the administrative burden on entrepreneurs
11	14 – Improve the business environment - Investment 2: Digitalisation of insolvency processes	Milestone	A single, fully digitised insolvency process is fully operational.
12	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 2: Equipping and digitalising the police force – training	Target	Training related to the police reform are rolled out
13	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 4: Strengthening administrative capacity at different levels of government – establishment of shared service centres	Target	Establishment of shared service centres
14	16 – Fight against corruption and money laundering - Reform 4: Control and audit	Milestone	Adoption a) of a corruption risk management methodology and b) of procedures regarding the supervision by NIKA of that methodology’s implementation
15	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 6: Preventive measures, speed of incident detection and resolution (ITVS – Information technologies for public administration)	Target	Number of secured IT systems in the public administration
16	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 1 – Sub-measure 3: Heat pump support	Milestone	Entry into force of legislative amendment of the Water Act No 364/2004
17	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 2 – Sub-measure 1: Development of methodologies and 2 pilot areas suitable for wind energy development	Milestone	Entry into force of legislation on ‘go-to areas’ for renewables and publication of the methodology for the establishment of ‘go-to areas’
18	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 2 – Sub-measure 3: Integration of renewables into the electricity grid	Milestone	Measures streamlining and accelerating the connection of renewables to the grid
19	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 6: Skills for the green transition	Milestone	New training modules in educational programmes of secondary vocational schools and a training programme for teachers and adults
		Instalment Amount	EUR 683 255 024.26

7.Seventh Instalment (non-repayable support):

Sequential Number	Related Measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name
1	4 - Decarbonisation of industry- Investment 2: Ensuring the functioning of the Slovak Inspectorate of the Environment linked to decarbonisation	Milestone	Capacity increasing investments for the Slovak Inspectorate of the Environment
2	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Reform 4: Adapt F-type study programmes	Milestone	F-programmes adapted
3	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Investment 1: Removing of barriers of school buildings	Target	Elimination of architectural barriers at secondary schools
4	11 - Modern and accessible healthcare- Reform 3 Centralization of the management of the largest hospitals	Target	Number of hospitals involved in central management system
5	11 - Modern and accessible healthcare- Investment 1 Supporting the opening of new primary care	Milestone	Public calls for the establishment of new primary care outpatient practicies
6	12 - Human, modern and accessible mental health care- Reform 1: Coordinated inter-ministerial cooperation and regulation	Milestone	Establishment of one entity for mental health, and the expansion of the competencies for an association for psychologists
7	12 - Human, modern and accessible mental health care- Investment 8: Training in mental health for staff	Target	Number of persons trained in mental healthcare
8	13 - Accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care- Extension and restoration of after-care and nursing capacities	Milestone	Extension and renewal of home nursing providers
9	13 - Accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care- Extension and restoration of palliative care capacities	Target	Extension and renewal of the mobile hospices network (indicator: number of new and rebuilt providers)
10	14 - Improve the business environment- Investment 1: Capacities for reforms to reduce regulatory burden	Milestone	Application of the 1-in 2-out rule, the principle of protection against unjustified goldplating and ex post evaluations of existing regulation
11	15 - Judicial reform- Investment 2: Digitalisation and analytical capacities	Target	Modernisation of court IT equipment for the court staff
12	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering, - Investment 2: Equipping and digitalising the police force – new or upgraded modules of the Foreign Residents Registration Information System (IS ECU)	Milestone	Electronicising residence permit processes to simplify processes for the public
13	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering- Investment 2: Equipping and digitalising the police force – Reconstruction of buildings	Milestone	Extent of the renovated floor area of police buildings to reduce the energy intensity of buildings (in m²)
14	17 - Digital Slovakia - Investment 5: Hackathons	Target	Number of organised hackathons
15	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 1 – Sub-measure 1: Legislative and procedural changes speeding up the issuing of environmental permits	Milestone	Entry into force of legislative and procedural changes
16	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 1 – Sub-measure 5: Preparation of an assessment of the trajectories of sustainable use and supply of biomass in Slovakia for period 2025-2035	Milestone	Assessment of the trajectories of sustainable use of biomass and supply of biomass in Slovakia
17	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 2 – Sub-measure 2 – Hydrogen Action Plan	Milestone	Measures to promote the uptake of hydrogen
18	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 4: Management of central government buildings	Milestone	Strategy for the management of central government buildings
		Instalment Amount	EUR 761 212 461.02

8.Eighth Instalment (non-repayable support):

Sequential Number	Related Measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name
1	5- Adaptation to climate change - Reform 2: Reforming nature conservation and water management in the country side	Milestone	Finalisation of zonation process of national park
2	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Reform 2: The definition of the concept of special educational needs of children and pupils and development of a model for eligible support measures in education, including their funding system	Target	Number of of persons trained who are either a teacher or education specialist
3	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Reform 5: Promoting school desegregation	Milestone	Introduction of desegregation standards
4	7 - Education for 21 Century- Reform 1: Education content and form reform	Milestone	Implementation of the curriculum reform and new learning materials to schools
5	7 - Education for 21 Century- Reform 1: Education content and form reform	Milestone	Introduction of an on-line final exam (maturita) for all upper secondary schools
6	7 – Education for the 21st century – Investment 1: Digital infrastructure in schools	Target	Schools equipped with basic level of digital equipment
7	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 1: Promoting international cooperation and participation in Horizon Europe and EIT projects	Target	Number of projects supported aimed at increasing participation in Horizon Europe calls
8	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 2: Support for cooperation between firms, academia and RD organisations	Milestone	Implementation of calls for projects to support cooperation between firms, academia and RD organisations and vouchers
9	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 3: Excellent science	Milestone	Implementation of calls to support excellent researchers
10	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 4: Research and innovation to decarbonise the economy	Milestone	Implementation of calls for thematic demand-driven projects addressing the challenges of green transition
11	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 5: Research and innovation for the digitalisation of the economy	Milestone	Implementation of calls for for thematic demand-driven projects addressing the challenges of digital transition
12	10 - Attracting and retaining talent- Investment 4: Promoting internationalisation in the academic environment	Target	Number of projects aimed at internationalisation of Slovak higher education institutions or research institutions
13	11 - Modern and accessible healthcare-Reform 1 Optimization of the Hospital Network (UN)	Target	Share of the reprofiled hospitals (authorised within the scope of general and specialised hospitals) under the new hospital network
14	11 - Modern and accessible healthcare- Investment 3 Digitalisation in health	Target	Central integration platform (CIP) procurement for 19 centrally managed public hospitals
15	12 - Human, modern and accessible mental health care- Investment 2: Creation of detention facilities	Milestone	Patient capacity of detention facilities
16	12 - Human, modern and accessible mental health care-Investment 3: Building community-based mental healthcare centres	Target	Number of created community-based mental health care centres
17	12 - Human, modern and accessible mental health care-Investment 7: Humanisation of institutional psychiatric care	Milestone	Reconstruction of institutional psychiatric care
18	13 – Accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care – Reform 1: Available and quality long-term care – Reform of integration and financing of long-term social and health care	Milestone	The new financing system of social services – introduction of a personal budget
19	13 – accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care – Investment 3: Extension and restoration of palliative care capacities	Milestone	Expansion and renewal of residential palliative care capacities
20	15 – Reform of the judiciary – Investment 1: Reorganisation of courts – Construction/procurement of new buildings	Target	Area of court buildings constructed or purchased (in m²)
21	15 - Judicial reform- Investment 2: Digitalisation and analytical capacities	Milestone	Creation of an analytical support platform for access to case law in courts
22	17 – Digital Slovakia - Investment 3: Engaging in European multi-country projects related to the digital economy	Milestone	Supercomputer for the Slovak Republic
23	17 - Digital Slovakia- Investment 6: Preventive measures, speed of incident detection and resolution (ITVS – Information technologies for public administration)	Milestone	Security audits of IT systems and applications in the public administration and reconstruction of secured spaces for critical infrastructure
24	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 1 – Sub-measure 4: Best Available Technology Centre	Target	Establishment of Best Available Technology (BAT) centre and provision of BAT reference documents
25	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 1 – Sub-measure 6: Developing and promoting the production of bio-methane, organic fertilisers and the circular bio-economy	Milestone	Developing and promoting the production of bio-methane, organic fertilisers and the circular bio-economy
26	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 2 – Sub-measure 1: Development of methodologies and establishment of 2 pilot ‘go-to areas’ suitable for wind energy development	Target	Establishment of pilot ‘go-to areas’ suitable for wind energy development. Adoption and application of the final methodology for the establishment of go-to areas.
27	19 – REPowerEU – Investment 4: Supporting the renovation of households at risk of energy poverty – light renovation scheme	Target	Number of renovated houses of people at risk of energy poverty
28	19 – REPowerEU – Investment 7: schools’ equipment and teachers’ training	Milestone	New training modules in educational programmes of secondary vocational schools provided in the school year 2025/26
		Instalment Amount	EUR 735 378 735.71

9.Ninth Instalment (non-repayable support):

Sequential Number	Related Measure (Reform or Investment)	Milestone / Target	Name
1	1 - Renewable energy sources and energy infrastructure- Investment 1: Construction of new renewable electricity sources	Target	New renewable energy source capacity
2	1 - Renewable energy sources and energy infrastructure- Investment 2: Modernising the existing renewable energy sources (repowering)	Target	Reconstructed renewable energy source capacity
3	1 - Renewable energy sources and energy infrastructure- Investment 3: Increasing flexibility of electricity systems for greater renewables integration	Target	Cumulative increase in capacity of installations increasing the flexibility of energy systems
4	2 - Building renovation- Investment 1: Increasing the energy efficiency of family houses	Target	Number of renovated family houses achieving at least 30 % primary energy savings
5	2 - Building renovation- Investment 2: Renovation of public historical and listed buildings	Target	Floor area of renovated public historical and listed buildings achieving, on average, at least 30 % of primary energy savings
6	3 - Sustainable transport- Reform 2: Public passenger transport reform	Target	Number of self-governing regions in which tariff integration is in place allowing for travelling by multiple modes of public transport or by carriers per ticket
7	3 - Sustainable transport- Investment 1: Development of low-carbon transport infrastructure	Target	Length of new cycling infrastructure (km)
8	3 - Sustainable transport- Investment 1: Development of low-carbon transport infrastructure	Target	Length of clean passenger rail infrastructure reconstructed or upgraded (in km weighted)
9	3 - Sustainable transport- Investment 1: Development of low-carbon transport infrastructure	Target	Length of sections of railway lines dispatched (km)
10	3 - Sustainable transport- Investment 2: Promoting clean passenger transport	Target	Number of clean passenger rolling stock procured (weighted)
11	3 - Sustainable transport- Investment 3: Development of intermodal freight transport	Target	Number of intermodal transport units procured in Twenty-foot Equivalent Units
12	3 - Sustainable transport-Investment 4: Supporting the development of infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles	Target	Number of recharging points or hydrogen refuelling points in operation.
13	4 - Decarbonisation of industry- Investment 1: The operation of the industry decarbonisation scheme	Milestone	Completion of implementation of the industry decarbonisation projects co-financed by the RRF
14	5 - Adapting to climate change – Investment 1: Adapting regions to climate change, focusing on nature conservation and biodiversity development	Target	Rehabilitation of watercourses( in Km of rehabilitated watercourses)
15	5 – Adaptation to climate change - Investment 2: Building forests resilient to climate change	Target	Sustainable reforestation activities
16	6 - Accessibility, development and quality of inclusive education- Reform 1: Providing conditions for the implementation of compulsory pre-primary education for children from the age of 5 and introducing a legal entitlement to a place in kindergarten or other pre-primary education providers from the age of 3	Target	Number of kindergartens constructed or reconstructed
17	7 - Education for 21 Century- Investment 2: Completion of school infrastructure	Target	Elimination of the double-shift schools
18	8 - Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions- Reform 5: Concentration of excellent educational and research capacities	Milestone	Bringing together universities through consortia
19	8 - Increase in the performance of Slovak higher education institutions- Investment 1: support for the strategic development of universities	Target	Reconstructed or renovated university area and dormitory with primary energy savings of more than 30 % (in m2)
20	9 - More efficient governance and strengthening RDI funding- Investment 6: Financial instruments to support innovation	Target	Number of companies supported through financial instruments
21	10 - Attracting and retaining talent- Investment 2: Strengthening relations with the diaspora	Target	Number of events strengthening relations with the diaspora
22	11 - Modern and accessible healthcare- Investment 2 New hospital network – construction, reconstruction and equipment	Target	Hospital bed capacity available at shell and core construction level
23	11 - Modern and accessible healthcare- Investment 2 New hospital network – construction, reconstruction and equipment	Target	Hospital bed capacity available in upgraded hospitals
24	11 - Modern and accessible healthcare- Investment 4 Construction and rehabilitation of ambulance stations (Ambulance Services)	Target	Number of ambulance stations constructed or reconstructed
25	13 - Accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care- Investment 1: Enhancement of community-based social care capacities	Milestone	Enhancement of capacities of community-based residential services and health-social low-capacity facilities
26	13 - Accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care- Investment 1: Enhancement of community-based social care capacities	Milestone	Expansion of outpatient service
27	13 - Accessible and high-quality long-term socio-health care- Investment 2: Extension and restoration of after-care and nursing capacities	Milestone	Creation of after care beds by renovating acute and chronic beds or by building aftercare beds
28	15 – Reform of the judiciary – Investment 2: Supporting instruments for reform of the Judicial Map – Commercial Register and Centralised System of Judicial Governance	Milestone	Development and handover of an IT system – Business Register
29	15 – Reform of the judiciary – Investment 1: reorganisation of courts – renovation of buildings	Target	Reconstructed area of court buildings (in m²)
30	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering- Investment 2: Equipping and digitalising the police force – Automated system for detecting road traffic offences	Milestone	Upgrade of the system for detecting road traffic infringements
31	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering- Investment 2: Equipping and digitalising the police force - Artificial intelligence platform	Milestone	New Artificial intelligence platform
32	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering- Investment 3: Modernisation of the fire and rescue system – building a network of Integrated Security Centres	Milestone	Delivery of an Integrated Security Centre and a virtual Integrated Security Centre
33	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering- Investment 3: Modernisation of the fire and rescue system – renewal of fire station buildings	Target	Modernisation of firefighting stations
34	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 4: Strengthening administrative capacity at different levels of government – New hardware equipment for public administration	Milestone	New hardware equipment for public administration (Ministry of Interior of the SR)
35	16 - Fight against corruption and money laundering - Investment 4: Strengthening administrative capacity at different levels of government – New hardware equipment for public administration	Milestone	New hardware equipment for public administration
36	17 - Digital Slovakia- Investment 1: Better services for citizens and businesses	Target	Number of priority life situations launched and made available to the public using eGovernment solutions
37	17 - Digital Slovakia- Investment 2: Digital transformation of public service delivery	Target	Digital transformation of processes of sections in the public administration
38	17 - Digital Slovakia- Investment 3: Engaging in European multi-country projects related to the digital economy	Target	Disbursement of EUR 8 711 034,58
39	17 - Digital Slovakia-Investment 4: Support for projects aiming at the development of digital technologies and infrastructure	Target	Disbursement of EUR 7 908 365,43
40	17 - Digital Slovakia- Investment 4: Support for projects aiming at the development of digital technologies and infrastructure	Target	Number of projects for thedevelopment of digital technologies
41	17 - Digital Slovakia-Reform 5: Cybersecurity training and skills (ITVS – Information technologies for public administration)	Target	Number of IT staff in the public administration trained in cybersecurity
42	17 - Digital Slovakia-Investment 7: Digital skills of seniors or disadvantaged people	Target	Number of seniors and disadvantaged people trained in basic digital skills
43	18 - Sound, sustainable and competitive public finances – Reform 3: Reform of public investment management	Milestone	Application of the methodology for the procedures for preparing and prioritising investments
44	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 1 – Sub-measure 1: Legislative and procedural changes speeding up the issuing of environmental permits	Target	Technical assistance to accelerate and improve the quality of environmental permitting procedures
45	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 1 – Sub-measure 2: Improving the use of geothermal energy	Target	“Passportisation” of geothermal wealls
46	19 – REPowerEU – Investment 1.3: Modernisation and digitalisation of the transmission system and regional distribution systems – modernisation of distribution systems	Target	Completion of investments into modernisation of distribution networks in the Slovak Republic
47	19 - REPowerEU – Reform 3: Creation of a database and data exchange system on the energy performance of buildings	Target	Data collection of energy certificates and renovation passports of public buildings
48	19 – REPowerEU – Reform 4: Management of central government buildings	Milestone	Establishment of a central coordinating body for the administrative buildings of the central government
49	19 – REPowerEU – Investment 2: Increasing the energy efficiency of public buildings	Target	Total floor area of buildings with installed energy efficiency measures
50	19 – REPowerEU – Investment 3: Renovation of public historical and listed buildings - SCALE UP measure SK-C[C2]-I[I2]	Target	Renovation of public historical and listed buildings
51	19 – REPowerEU – Investment 4: Supporting the renovation of households at risk of energy poverty – light renovation scheme	Target	Number of consultations provided
52	19 – REPowerEU – Investment 5: Development of low-carbon transport infrastructure - SCALE UP measure SK-C[C3]-I[I1.a]	Target	Length of reconstructed or upgraded track infrastructure for clean passenger transport (in weighted km)
53	19 – REPowerEU – Investment 6: Promoting environmentally friendly passenger transport - SCALE UP measure SK-C[C3]-I[I2]	Target	Number of clean passenger rolling stock procured (weighted)
54	19 – REPowerEU – Investment 8: Part 1 – Communication for REPowerEU chapter implementation - SCALE UP measure SK-C[C16]-I[I4]	Target	Number of communication campaigns
		Instalment Amount	EUR 646 695 062.02

SECTION 3: ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

1. Arrangements for monitoring and implementation of the recovery and resilience plan

The monitoring and implementation of the recovery and resilience plan of Slovakia shall take place in accordance with the following arrangements:

In order to ensure well-defined tasks, competences and powers, the Slovak Republic has adopted a specific Act on the Recovery and Resilience Facility and amended certain acts (“RRF Act”). The Act governs, inter alia, the selection of final recipient, the responsibilities of the involved parties, how financial corrections are to be carried out and irregularities are dealt with, conflict of interests and the processing of personal data. It also introduces measures to protect the financial interests of the European Union at the level of each entity involved in the implementation. It regulates the monitoring of the achievement of milestones and targets and the system of data collection covering beneficial owners.

The National Implementation and Coordination Authority (NIKA) is the one stop shop for implementation of the Slovak recovery and resilience plan. It coordinates and guides the implementation and conducts checks on implementing bodies, intermediaries and final recipients. It is responsible for monitoring and assessing the implementation of the plan and the achievement of milestones and targets, as well as providing the Commission with the collected data on request.

2. Arrangements for providing full access by the Commission to the underlying data

The National Implementation and Coordination Authority (NIKA), as the central coordinating body for Slovakia’s recovery and resilience plan and its implementation, is responsible for overall coordination and monitoring of the plan. In particular, it acts as a coordinating body for monitoring progress on milestones and targets, for monitoring and, where appropriate, implementing control and audit activities, and for submitting the requests for payments to the Commission. It coordinates the reporting of milestones and targets, relevant indicators, but also qualitative financial information and other data, such as on final recipients. For these purposes a repository system for monitoring the implementation of the Facility is in place and operational, which shall be gradually replaced by the IT system called ISPO.

In accordance with Article 24(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, upon completion of the relevant agreed milestones and targets in Section 2.1 of this Annex, Slovakia shall submit to the Commission a duly justified request for payment of the financial contribution. Slovakia shall ensure that, upon request, the Commission has full access to the underlying relevant data that supports the due justification of the request for payment, both for the assessment of the request for payment in accordance with Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 and for audit and control purposes.

Choose the experimental features you want to try