East European states want more EU fund flexibility to support industry as energy prices rise

Oct 19 (Reuters) - Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland are seeking temporary exemptions to use some European Union funds to help soothe the impact of high energy prices on industry, Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said on Monday.

• Governments in central and eastern Europe have been facing rising budget deficits and are taking measures to ease the impact of high energy prices on people and business, whether through utility bills or at the fuel pump, as wars in the Middle East and Ukraine weigh on global markets

• On Monday, Slovakia hosted neighbouring economy and energy ministers together with EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen; the four countries make up the Visegrad group of states (V4)

• "We have submitted a request for a temporary exemption that would allow us to use European Union resources so that our industry, which has schemes in place to help it cope with high energy prices, can receive this support," Sakova said at a broadcast news conference

• She said exemptions could be for certain cohesion or modernisation funds

• "This is not just a question for Slovakia or the public finances of the Slovak Republic, but of course, every V4 country does not want to place a long-term burden on its state budget"

(Reporting by Jason Hovet in PragueEditing by Tomasz Janowski)