Environment Minister Attacks Scientists as Slovakia Faces EU Recovery Fund Deadline

Slovakia's Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba has launched attacks on scientists from the Slovak Academy of Sciences amid growing pressure to complete zoning plans for four national parks. The government is running out of time to approve these zonations, which are required as part of Slovakia's application for the eighth payment from the EU's Recovery and Resilience Plan worth 735 million euros. The zoning plans remain incomplete despite the government's original promise to finish them by the end of March. Taraba, nominated by the Slovak National Party (SNS), a junior partner in the ruling coalition, has targeted the academy's scientists in connection with the controversial zoning requirements. The European Commission has called on Slovakia to follow the scientists' recommendations as the country faces potential delays in accessing crucial EU recovery funds.