What is OPIS?

The Operational Programme Information Society (OPIS) is a reference document on the basis of which EU structural fund  assistance will be provided for information society projects between 2007 and 2013. These resources will be used in Slovakia in accordance with the overall strategy of the European Union to build a competitive European economy based on innovation and knowledge. The global goal of OPIS is to create an inclusive information society, as a vehicle for the development of a high performance knowledge-based economy. First and foremost that means: to build modern, citizen-oriented and effective eGovernment services, to create first rate digital content and make broadband internet access available to every citizen, including the elderly, disabled and socially disadvantaged citizens.

On the basis of OPIS, non-repayable financial assistance will be provided for these three priorities:

1. Development of eGovernment and ICT-based services aimed at effective provision of public administration services to citizens. This includes the construction and interconnection of various information systems in public administration. Resources in the amount of EUR 879,350,829 are allocated for this Priority Axis (from the Structural Funds, including co-financing from the state budget).

2. Development and renewal of the national infrastructure of repository institutions aiming to improve the quality of acquisition, processing, protection and application of information and digital content, to modernise and complete the repository institutions' infrastructure at the national level.  The second Priority Axis will be subsidised by the amount of EUR 192,402,304 (from the Structural Funds, including co-financing from the state budget).

3. Improvement of broadband internet access aiming to increase broadband internet penetration, facilitate broadband internet access for all citizens and develop regional and local broadband networks in areas unattractive for commercial operators.  A subsidy of EUR 113,177,826 is allocated for the third Priority Axis (from the Structural Funds, including co-financing from the state budget).

Besides these three axes, OPIS also defines the 4th Priority Axis Technical Assistance, which constitutes the legal, financial and technical background of bodies involved in the implementation of SF aiming to ensure high effectiveness and efficiency of OPIS interventions. Based on Methodology Guideline No. 5/2007 of the Central Coordination Authority (of the Ministry of Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic), Technical Assistance funds should ensure the necessary conditions for top-quality and professional preparation, monitoring, administration, assessment, audit and inspection of the implementation of operational programs. Pursuant to  Government Resolution No. 832/2006 on the proposed update of the National Strategic Reference Framework of the Slovak Republic for the years 2007-2013, a total of EUR 0.933 billion is earmarked for OPIS projects in the programming period 2007-2013, of which 3.13% will be spent on Priority Axis 4 – Technical Assistance. EUR 24.4 billion was allocated from EU funds including co-financing from the state budget, for an interim budget for Technical Assistance in the Finance Ministry.