CEB and Žilina Self-Governing Region sign €30 million for strategic social investment

Paris - The Žilina Self-Governing Region of the Slovak Republic signed a new framework loan agreement with the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) worth €30 million.

The agreement was signed by ŽSK President Erika Jurinová and CEB Vice-Governor for Target Group Countries Tomáš Boček. Over the next three years, the funds will be used to co-finance strategic projects in the areas of education, healthcare, social services, transport, and sports infrastructure. The investments will improve public services and contribute to more efficient regional budget management.

"In times of limited public funding, it is crucial for us to continue investing in projects that directly impact the quality of life of our residents. Thanks to our cooperation with the CEB, we can carry out projects that not only enhance public services but also bring long-term savings and contribute to more efficient budget management," said President Erika Jurinová.

"Žilina Self-Governing Region has been a long-standing and reliable partner of ours. Since 2015, we have been cooperating on financing projects with strong social and development dimensions. This new framework agreement is a testament to our confidence in the region's ability to implement sustainable and meaningful investments," said Vice-Governor Tomáš Boček.

The resources from the framework loan will be allocated across multiple sectors. The region plans to build new educational campuses in Ružomberok and Žilina, an inclusive education centre in Dolný Kubín, and a robotics campus in Kysucké Nové Mesto. In healthcare, the plans include modernising trauma surgery at the Kysuce Hospital, renovating the physiotherapy and rehabilitation department in Dolný Kubín, and building an MRI unit at the Liptov Hospital.

Significant investments are also planned in the social services sector-the region is preparing to build a new outpatient centre for individuals with autism spectrum disorders at the Straník Social Services Centre and to renovate other facilities in Zákamenné, Ružomberok, Martin, and Žilina. Part of the funds will also be used to modernise transport infrastructure, including repairs of regional roads, bridge maintenance, and the purchase of equipment for winter and summer road maintenance.

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) is a multilateral development bank with an exclusively social mandate from its 43 member countries. The CEB finances investment and provides technical assistance in social sectors such as education, health and affordable housing, while focusing on the needs of vulnerable people, as well as on the social dimensions of climate change and the environment. Borrowers include governments, local and regional authorities, public and private banks, non-profit organisations and others. The CEB, which has a triple-A credit rating, funds itself through international capital markets. In addition, the CEB receives funds from donors to complement its activities.