Slovakia | Central European Journal of International and Security Studies

Central Europe in the World

Twenty years since the end of its artificial dismemberment and Central Europe continues to evolve as a unique political, economic and social space. Yet, there is no escaping the contagious political dynamics unfolding in Europe, and post-Cold War Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have rapidly emerged as pillars of regional and international relations.

Located in the heart of Central Europe, CEJISS is proud to announce the launching of a new media service freely available to our electronic readership: clear and concise summaries and political analyses of key issues which link the countries and peoples of Central Europe to the rest of the world.

(SlS/17/11/2011) According to the Statistics Office (ŠÚ), the average annual inflation rate in Slovakia is currently at 3.5% with the year-on-year inflation rate increasing by 4.6% since 2010. (by Dominika Bzduchova)

(Econ/07/10/2011) Slovakia's vote on the Euro bail-out fund has caused turmoil within the country's government. Fresh elections are to be held March 2012. (Julia Lampasova)

(SlMFA/07/10/2011) MFA State Secretary Mr. Milan Jezovica will participate in the EU's Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and the General Affairs Council (GAC) which will be held 10-11th October 2011, in Luxembourg. (Julia Lampasova)

(04/10/2011/SlMFA) Slovakia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed its deep concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. (by Julia Lampasova)

(29/09/2011/EC) Slovakia and the Netherlands undertook their first joint work trip to Tunis as co-chairs of the Community of Democracies Task Force supporting Tunisia's democratic transition. (by Julia Lampasova)

(29/09/2011/SlS) MP Ondrej Dostál, a former activist and the vice-chair of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights and Minorities, was forcibly escorted from a Chinese embassy reception on the occasion of the 62nd anniversary of the foundation of the PRC. This happened after he handed over a letter to Ambassador Gu Ziping calling for the release of the Chinese lawyer Gao Zhisheng and other political prisoners. Dostál also attempted to give the Chinese Ambassador a book by Zhisheng entitled A China More Just. (Julia Lampasova)

(21/09/2011/SlS) Slovak Prime Minister, Iveta Radičová, met US President Barack Obama for the first time on 20 September in New York City. (by Dominika Bzduchova)

(22/08/2011/Prav) After intra-coalition negotiations, Slovak Prime Minister, Iveta Radičová, announced that the Slovak Republic would approach the ratification of the Euroval (the Slovak term for the European Financial Stabilisation Facility) as the last country of the Eurozone. The reason for this is a persistent defiance of the coalition's SaS party which would like to wait until another country thwarts the ratification process instead. (by Julia Lampasova)

(SlS/19/08/2011) Slovak Foreign Minister, Mikuláš Dzurinda, sent condolences to Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman following the coordinated shooting and rocket attacks which killed seven Israelis and left 26 people wounded.

(SloSpec/09/08/2011) Diverse opinions over the progress of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) is dividing the Slovak government. This is reflected by the opposing views of the Finance Minister Mikloš who considers the EFSF as the only efficient tool available, and Richard Sulík, leader of the Freedom and Solidarity party, who fears such a mechanism is counter-productive and may lead the EU to become a "debt union." Prime Minister Radičová reacted to dissension by opening a broad discussion among all the parliamentary parties seeking to find a common ground. (by Julia Lampasova, Staff Writer)

(SlS/25/07/2011) According to the Institute of Public Affairs (IVO), the so-called Roma 'problem' is the most evident issue which hinders the overall improvement of the standards of democracy in the Slovak Republic. (by Dominika Bzduchova, Staff Writer)

(SlS/18/07/2011) According to the Statistics Office, Slovakia has an ageing population with birth rate figures similar to 1996 levels with only 60,000 (est.) children born in 2010. (by Dominika Bzduchova, Staff Writer)

(SlS/04/07/2011) An important and popular Slovak website, which had recently been acclaimed for focusing on government accountability, has been ordered to delete information about companies and businesses which have benefited from state contracts. (by Dominika Bzduchova, Staff Writer)

(SlS/02/07/2011) The Freedom and Solidarity Party (SaS) is pushing the Slovak parliament to pressure Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš, of the ruling Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), to abide by five conditions in any loan to Greece: 1. the full involvement of the private sector, 2. the direct involvement of the IMF, 3. the privatisation of Greece state property, 4. the adequate acquisition of collateral, and 5. the explicit pronouncement of Greece's political commitment to the plan.

(SlS/01/07/2011) Slovak Foreign Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda has accepted an advisory role (for Slovakia) in Tunisia's transition to democracy.

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