European Commission: Over 36 billion euros flowed to Slovakia from EU budget since 2004

Slovakia has received more than 36 billion euros from the European Union budget since joining the bloc in 2004, according to the European Commission's representation in Slovakia. The EU funds have contributed to significant improvements in the country's economy and constitute a large portion of public investments. Slovakia joined the European Union in 2004 as part of the largest expansion in the bloc's history, along with nine other countries including Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. EU structural and cohesion funds are designed to help newer member states modernize their economies and infrastructure to converge with wealthier Western European nations.