The Vice Prime Minister of Slovakia Miroslav Lajcak has come to Transcarpathia

September 10, in the framework of his working visit to Ukraine, the Vice Prime Minister – the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajcak arrived in Transcarpathia.

The official delegation consists of the Director of the Territorial Department Branislav Hitka, the Director of the Development and Humanitarian Aid Department Peter Huleni, the Consul General of the Slovak Republic in Uzhgorod Janka Burianova and representatives of the Slovak media.

First of all, the respectable guest met with the Chairman of the Regional Council Ivan Baloha. The meeting was also attended by the First Deputy Chairman of the Regional Council Vasyl Brenzovych, the manager of the executive office of the Regional Council Mykhailo Popovich, the head of the charity fund "Viza", deputy of the Reagional Council Volodymyr Chubirko.

Miroslav Lajcak said that this year it is his sixth visit to Ukraine, and the second – to Transcarpathia. He thanked the government of the region for keeping the situation stable during this time. He said about a difficult situation in the country. The high-ranking official said that Slovakia supports the European aspirations of Ukraine, and wishes it a peaceful sky.     Ivan Baloha said that Ukraine has chosen the European way of development, and that "the course for full membership in the EU and NATO," in his view, must become an important strategic development plan of the country. He also believes that the promise of decentralization in the country must be fulfilled. Miroslav Lajcak in turn, noted that Slovakia has made real steps to decentralize the power, without changing the Constitution. 

 The participants of the meeting noted the positive fact that the first gas supplies to Europe via Slovakia was launched last week. It is expected that the volume of these supplies can be up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Also, they discussed cooperation in the field of energy efficiency. The Regional Council Chairman Ivan Baloha said that over the past 8 years in Transcarpathia, they have managed to significantly reduce gas consumption, and much has been done with the help of European partners in the field of energy saving. Miroslav Lajcak said that Slovakia would continue to support Ukraine in this way, the Slovaks are willing to share experience and technology for transition to alternative forms of heating.

The parties expressed their sincere desire to continue to cooperate in different areas and maintain good relations.

Then, the esteemed delegation headed by Miroslav Lajcak left for the meeting with representatives of the Transcarpathian intellectuals and the media in the format of "Tea with the Minister."

REFERENCE. Slovakia ranks 11th in terms of the volume of FDI in the economy of Transcarpathia. The neighbors have invested in our economy nearly 12 million U. S. dollars, accounting for 2.7% of the total amount of foreign direct investment. Currently, in the region, there are 110 enterprises with foreign capital of Slovak origin.