Minister Dr Monika Kirbiš Rojs highlights the importance of smaller municipalities for Slovenia's development at the Benedikt municipal holiday celebration

SLOVENIA, July 4 - The Ministry of Local Self-Government, Cohesion and Regional Development is aware of the challenges local communities face. This is why the Ministry is implementing measures to ensure balanced regional development. The Ministry pays special attention to making better use of the EU funding opportunities and removing administrative barriers that often slow down development projects. In her address, the Minister emphasised her commitment to the goal of ensuring that every community in Slovenia has the opportunity to develop, saying: “For me, this is not just a task for the ministry on paper, but a very concrete responsibility. To ensure that development reaches people where they live. To ensure that funds are used where they improve everyday life. To ensure that municipalities are not left on their own when it comes to well-designed projects.”

The Minister also underlined the importance of living well even in smaller municipalities: “Entrepreneurs, craftspeople and farmers need the right conditions to work and be creative. Families need a reason to stay in their communities. Young people should feel they can build their future there. Older people need help and should know that they have not been forgotten.”

The Minister emphasised that development does not happen on its own, but is the result of innovation, perseverance, and people's willingness to work together towards common goals. The Minister said that the Municipality of Benedikt is an example of successful local development and can serve as a model for other municipalities thanks to its long-term planning and development. Through strategic investments in infrastructure, education, the environment, and quality of life, the municipality is creating favourable conditions for its further development. Among the municipality’s most significant achievements in recent years are the renovation of local roads, the expansion of municipal infrastructure, the completion of a wastewater treatment plant, the energy retrofit of the elementary school, and the establishment of a multigenerational centre and other facilities that enhance community life. To carry out these development projects, the municipality has received nearly €4.9 million in additional investment funds.

On the occasion of the 27th municipal holiday, the Minister congratulated the residents of Benedikt and this year’s award recipients and wished the Municipality of Benedikt to continue to be a place of unity, mutual support, and joint efforts to create development opportunities.

The ceremony was also attended by Members of the National Assembly, Franc Breznik and Aleksander Gungl, as well as mayors of neighbouring and partner municipalities.