Labour Ministry Alters Cooperation with NGOs Regarding Integration of Ukrainians

Bratislava, December 21 (TASR) - The Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry won't continue to cooperate with a consortium of NGOs led by the Open Society Foundation regarding the integration of Ukrainian citizens in Slovakia, Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) announced on Thursday. The original contract was signed by the ministry's previous leadership, with €16 million being spent on the project to date.​ The volume of allocated finances will be reduced to €7.5 million, and the setting and project will be changed. Towns and villages will receive money from the European Social Fund (ESF) directly. Some of the money will be available to the Office of the Government Proxy for the Development of Civic Society. "The office will subsequently choose NGOs to participate in the project. The distribution of money will take into account the European Commission's recommendations. Beneficiaries will be exclusively Slovak citizens, and the money will be used for high-quality and effective integration activities," stated Tomas. The project called 'Aid for Citizens of Ukraine for their Entry and Integration in Slovakia-NGOs' was drawn up and implemented by a consortium of six independent NGOs led by the Open Society Foundation. ko/df