The Slovak RepublicThe Slovak Republic

Summer School in BratislavaSummer School in BratislavaAssociate Prof.Associate Prof. JUDr. Vlasta Kunová, JUDr. Vlasta Kunová, PhDPhD

Jean Monet ChairJean Monet Chair

Geographical location: Geographical location: Central EuropeCentral Europe

BRATISLAVA – the capital cityBRATISLAVA – the capital cityBratislava’s location on the banks of the River Bratislava’s location on the banks of the River

Danube and at the crossroads of ancient trading Danube and at the crossroads of ancient trading routes right at the heart of Europe predestined it routes right at the heart of Europe predestined it

to become a meeting point of various cultures to become a meeting point of various cultures

half a million inhabitants half a million inhabitants and a leading centre of the and a leading centre of the economyeconomy

nowadaysnowadays, Bratislava is one , Bratislava is one of the most rapidly growing of the most rapidly growing urban regions of Europeurban regions of Europe

COMENIUS UNIVERSITYCOMENIUS UNIVERSITY ŠaŠaffáárikovo sq.6, 815 05 Bratislavarikovo sq.6, 815 05 Bratislava

founded onfounded on June 27th, 1919June 27th, 1919 and and follows the university tradition of the follows the university tradition of the Academia Istropolitana which was Academia Istropolitana which was established in Bratislava by Matthias established in Bratislava by Matthias Corvinus, the Hungarian King, in Corvinus, the Hungarian King, in 14651465

the largest and the oldest university in the largest and the oldest university in the Slovak republic with full acreditationthe Slovak republic with full acreditation

consists of 13 faculties, including consists of 13 faculties, including Faculty of LawFaculty of Law

Institute of International Institute of International RelationsRelations

and Approximation of Lawand Approximation of LawJean Monnet ChairJean Monnet Chair

ŠaŠaffáárikovo sq.6, 815 05 Bratislavarikovo sq.6, 815 05 Bratislava

established in 1992 for training and established in 1992 for training and education of diplomatic service education of diplomatic service employees, for education in employees, for education in international relainternational relattions and ions and European Union issuesEuropean Union issues

provides three-semester provides three-semester postgraduate study, not depending postgraduate study, not depending on the previous specialization on the previous specialization

STUDY INFORMATIONSTUDY INFORMATION

thethe study is realised according to study is realised according to the Act No. 131/2002 Coll. on the Act No. 131/2002 Coll. on Universities and Act No. 3861996 Universities and Act No. 3861996 Coll. on Continuing Education and Coll. on Continuing Education and Study Regulation of Institute of Study Regulation of Institute of International Relations and International Relations and Approximation of Law, Faculty of Approximation of Law, Faculty of Law, CU BratislavaLaw, CU Bratislava

beginning of beginning of the the study is identical study is identical with the academic yearwith the academic year

STUDY INFORMATIONSTUDY INFORMATION accordingaccording to the to the current current scheduleschedule for for

specificspecific semester, semester, the the study is study is focused on:focused on:- International Relations- International Relations- Diplomatic and Consular Agenda- Diplomatic and Consular Agenda- History- History- Legal Disciplines- Legal Disciplines- Geopolitics - Geopolitics - Two foreign languages- Two foreign languages

courses in English and French courses in English and French Language are includedLanguage are included

Additional students´ Additional students´ activitiesactivities

ConferencesConferences Non-formal meetings with diplomats and Non-formal meetings with diplomats and

interested personalities of public lifeinterested personalities of public life Traineeship at Ministry of Foreign Traineeship at Ministry of Foreign

Affairs SR and other institutions of civil Affairs SR and other institutions of civil serviceservice

Possibility to publishPossibility to publish Foreign TraineeshipsForeign Traineeships

Graduate career realizationGraduate career realization

Civil Service InstitutionsCivil Service Institutions

Diplomatic ServiceDiplomatic Service

Bank SectorBank Sector

International TradeInternational Trade

EU InstitutionsEU Institutions

General information on General information on the Slovak Republicthe Slovak Republic

Area:Area: 49 035 km2  49 035 km2 Population:Population: 5  5 447447 5 50202 Currency:Currency: Slovak crown (SKK) Slovak crown (SKK) Official language:Official language: Slovak Slovak Capital:Capital: Bratislava Bratislava

General information on General information on the Slovak Republicthe Slovak Republic

Date of state establishment: Date of state establishment: 1.1.19931.1.1993

ParliamentaryParliamentary republic republic with with president and prime minister on president and prime minister on the top the top

Power allocationPower allocation: executive, : executive, legislative and judiciary legislative and judiciary

MACROECONOMICMACROECONOMICOVERVIEWOVERVIEW

GDP for 2007: SKK 1.851,8 billion – GDP for 2007: SKK 1.851,8 billion – 10,4% higher than in year 200610,4% higher than in year 2006

Unemployment rate in 2008 Unemployment rate in 2008 according to Eurostat: 9,9% according to Eurostat: 9,9%

19% flat tax19% flat tax, including 19, including 19%% VAT; VAT; no no tax on dividendstax on dividends

MACROECONOMICMACROECONOMICOVERVIEWOVERVIEW

International Membership:International Membership:

– OSN OSN – OECD OECD – WTO WTO – Visegrad Group Visegrad Group – NATO NATO – EUEU

MACROECONOMICMACROECONOMIC OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

Slovakia is generally recognized as Slovakia is generally recognized as an an open market economyopen market economy whose whose ability and willingnessability and willingness to pay its to pay its liabilities puts it, liabilities puts it, pursuantpursuant to to prestigious rating agencies, into the prestigious rating agencies, into the investment levelinvestment level

one of the most progressive one of the most progressive economics within European Unioneconomics within European Union

MACROECONOMICSMACROECONOMICS OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

Cheap and skilled laborCheap and skilled labor forceforce liberal laborliberal labor code code stable economic indicators stable economic indicators new regulations for the product, new regulations for the product,

capital and labor marketscapital and labor markets structural reformsstructural reforms

LEGAL SYSTEMLEGAL SYSTEM The private and commercial law is based on The private and commercial law is based on

the the continental law systemcontinental law system – binding are – binding are the legal provisions, not the case lawthe legal provisions, not the case law

Decentralized public administration Decentralized public administration

The principal act governing the state system The principal act governing the state system is the is the ConstitutionConstitution of the Slovak republic of the Slovak republic under the supervision of the Constitutional under the supervision of the Constitutional CourtCourt

LEGAL SYSTEMLEGAL SYSTEM

Two-level court system:Two-level court system:- - District courtsDistrict courts are competent are competent forfor proceedings proceedings atat the the first instance first instance- - Regional courtsRegional courts hear cases as appeal hear cases as appeal courts courts - - The Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of the Slovak of the Slovak Republic has the function of an appellate Republic has the function of an appellate review court. Being the supreme judicial review court. Being the supreme judicial body the Supreme Court of the Slovak body the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic never acts as a first instance courtRepublic never acts as a first instance court

                                                                       

COURT SYSTEMCOURT SYSTEM

Constitutional Court

Supreme Court

8 Regional Courts

54 District Courts

Special Court

Slovak republic and Slovak republic and the European Unionthe European Union

Accession: Accession: 1 of May 20041 of May 2004 Number of representatives in Number of representatives in

European Parliament: European Parliament: 1414 Voices in the European Commision: Voices in the European Commision: 77 Representative in EC: Representative in EC: Ján FigeľJán Figeľ - -

commisary for education and culturecommisary for education and culture Planed Euro adoption: Planed Euro adoption: 1.1.2009 1.1.2009

Economic and Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)Monetary Union (EMU)

the process of the process of harmonising the harmonising the economic and monetary economic and monetary policies of the Member policies of the Member States of the Union with States of the Union with a view to the a view to the introduction of a single introduction of a single currency, the eurocurrency, the euro

Euro area Member StatesEuro area Member States Non-euro area Member StatesNon-euro area Member States

 

   

 

   

    

Three stages of EMUThree stages of EMU

EMU was achieved in three EMU was achieved in three stages:stages:

1.1. First stageFirst stage (1 July 1990 to 31 (1 July 1990 to 31 December 1993): December 1993): - - free movement of capital free movement of capital between Member States, closer between Member States, closer coordination of economic coordination of economic policies and closer cooperation policies and closer cooperation between central banks between central banks

Three stages of EMUThree stages of EMU

2. 2. Second stageSecond stage (1 January 1994 to 31 (1 January 1994 to 31 December 1998): December 1998): - - convergence of the economic and convergence of the economic and monetary policies of the Member monetary policies of the Member States (to ensure stability of prices States (to ensure stability of prices and sound public finances) and the and sound public finances) and the establishment of the European establishment of the European Monetary Institute (EMI) and, in Monetary Institute (EMI) and, in 1998, of the European Central Bank 1998, of the European Central Bank (ECB)(ECB)

Three stages of EMUThree stages of EMU

3. 3. Third stageThird stage (from 1 January (from 1 January 1999): 1999): - - irrevocable fixing of exchange irrevocable fixing of exchange rates and introduction of the rates and introduction of the single currency on the foreign-single currency on the foreign-exchange markets and for exchange markets and for electronic payments; electronic payments; introduction of euro notes and introduction of euro notes and coinscoins

EEconomic andconomic and Monetary UnionMonetary Union

three Member States did not three Member States did not adopt the single currency: the adopt the single currency: the United KingdomUnited Kingdom and and DenmarkDenmark, , both of which have an opt-out both of which have an opt-out clause, and clause, and SwedenSweden, following a , following a referendum in September 2003 referendum in September 2003

EEconomic andconomic and Monetary UnionMonetary Union

tthe States which joined the Union he States which joined the Union on 1 May 2004 and 1 January on 1 May 2004 and 1 January 2007 are required to adopt the 2007 are required to adopt the euro as soon as they meet all the euro as soon as they meet all the convergence criteriaconvergence criteria. They were . They were not granted opt-out clauses not granted opt-out clauses during the accession negotiationsduring the accession negotiations

The Convergence The Convergence CriteriaCriteria

price stabilityprice stability: the rate of inflation : the rate of inflation may not exceed the average rates of may not exceed the average rates of inflation of the three member states inflation of the three member states with the lowest inflation by more than with the lowest inflation by more than 1.5 %; 1.5 %;

inflationinflation: long-term interest rates may : long-term interest rates may not vary by more than 2 % in relation to not vary by more than 2 % in relation to the average interest rates of the three the average interest rates of the three member states with the lowest inflation; member states with the lowest inflation;

The Convergence The Convergence CriteriaCriteria deficitsdeficits: national budget deficits : national budget deficits

must be below 3 % of GDP; must be below 3 % of GDP; public debt:public debt: this may not exceed this may not exceed

60 % of GDP; 60 % of GDP; exchange rate stabilityexchange rate stability: :

exchange rates must have exchange rates must have remained within the authorised remained within the authorised margin of fluctuation for the margin of fluctuation for the previous two years previous two years

Process of accessionProcess of accession to join the European Union, a state needs to to join the European Union, a state needs to

fulfill the economic and political conditions fulfill the economic and political conditions generally known as the generally known as the Copenhagen criteriaCopenhagen criteria::thethe candidate country has candidate country has to to achieved achieved

stability of institutions guaranteeing stability of institutions guaranteeing democracydemocracy, the , the rule of lawrule of law, , human rightshuman rights and respect for and, protection of and respect for and, protection of minoritiesminorities, the existence of a functioning , the existence of a functioning market economymarket economy as well as the capacity to as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Unionmarket forces within the Union

Process of accessionProcess of accessionmmembership presupposes the candidate's embership presupposes the candidate's

ability to take on the obligations of ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic and aims of political, economic and monetary monetary union union

political, economic and legal reforms within political, economic and legal reforms within the terms of EU model are reaquiredthe terms of EU model are reaquired

According to the According to the EU TreatyEU Treaty, each current , each current member state and also the member state and also the European European ParliamentParliament have to agree to any have to agree to any enlargementenlargement

ASSOCIATION TREATYASSOCIATION TREATY

4.10.1991 SR signed the 4.10.1991 SR signed the ‘‘Association TreatyAssociation Treaty’’, wich , wich came into effect 1.2.1995came into effect 1.2.1995

it set out the legal frame for it set out the legal frame for aproximation of Slovak law aproximation of Slovak law with the law of European with the law of European CommuitiesCommuities

ASSOCIATION TREATYASSOCIATION TREATY

Article 69: Article 69: „„The contracting party recognize that The contracting party recognize that the major precondition for the Slovak the major precondition for the Slovak RepublicRepublic’s integration into the ’s integration into the Community is the approximation of Community is the approximation of the Slovak Republic’s existing and the Slovak Republic’s existing and future legislation to that of the future legislation to that of the Community.Community. The Slovak Republic shall The Slovak Republic shall endeavor to ensure that its legislation endeavor to ensure that its legislation will be gradually made compatible will be gradually made compatible with that of the Community.”with that of the Community.”

ASSOCIATION TREATYASSOCIATION TREATY the Constitution was amended in the Constitution was amended in

the year 2001 and it included the the year 2001 and it included the so called “integration clauses”:so called “integration clauses”:Article 7(2) reads: “The Slovak Article 7(2) reads: “The Slovak

republic may, by an international republic may, by an international treaty ratified and promulgated as treaty ratified and promulgated as stipulated by law, or on the basis of stipulated by law, or on the basis of such treaty, transfer the execution such treaty, transfer the execution of a part of its rights to the European of a part of its rights to the European Communities and European Union.Communities and European Union.

ASSOCIATION TREATYASSOCIATION TREATY

Legally binding acts of the European Legally binding acts of the European Communities and European Union Communities and European Union shall take precedence over the laws shall take precedence over the laws of the Slovak Republic. Undertaking of the Slovak Republic. Undertaking of legally binding acts that require of legally binding acts that require implementation shall be carried out implementation shall be carried out by law or a statutory order pursuant by law or a statutory order pursuant to Article 120 Section 2.”to Article 120 Section 2.”

Association Association ProceedingsProceedings

December 1999December 1999 – European – European Counsel decided at the Helsing Counsel decided at the Helsing summit to invite Slovak Repbublic summit to invite Slovak Repbublic on negotiations for joining EUon negotiations for joining EU

March 2000March 2000 – official – official negotiations in Brussels took part; negotiations in Brussels took part; Slovak Republic negotiated in 31 Slovak Republic negotiated in 31 negotiating sectionsnegotiating sections

ACCESSION TREATY ACCESSION TREATY 20032003

The The Treaty of Accession 2003Treaty of Accession 2003 was the was the agreement between the EU and 10 agreement between the EU and 10 countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia), Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia), concerning these countries' accession concerning these countries' accession into the EU. At the same time it changed into the EU. At the same time it changed a number of points which were originally a number of points which were originally laid down in the Treaty of Nicelaid down in the Treaty of Nice

The treaty was signed on The treaty was signed on April 16, 2003April 16, 2003 in Athens, Greece and it entered into in Athens, Greece and it entered into force on force on May 1, 2004May 1, 2004 the day of the the day of the enlargement of the European Unionenlargement of the European Union

ACCESSION TREATY ACCESSION TREATY 20032003

The Treaty of Accession 2003 The Treaty of Accession 2003 modifies:modifies:

the Treaty of Rome (Treaty the Treaty of Rome (Treaty establishing the European Community)establishing the European Community)

the Euratom Treaty and the Euratom Treaty and the Maastricht (Treaty forming the the Maastricht (Treaty forming the

European) European) as well as other acts which together as well as other acts which together

form the current legal framework form the current legal framework (acquis) of the EU(acquis) of the EU

ACCESSION TREATY ACCESSION TREATY 20032003

changes include the way that the changes include the way that the Qualified Majority VotingQualified Majority Voting is is handled in the Council of the handled in the Council of the European UnionEuropean Union

COMENIUS UNIVERSITYCOMENIUS UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF LAWFACULTY OF LAW

Institute for International Institute for International RelationsRelations and Law Aproximation and Law Aproximation

BratislavaBratislava