The Slovak Republic Summer School in Bratislava Associate Prof. JUDr. Vlasta Kunová, PhD Jean Monet Chair

Geographical location: Central Europe

BRATISLAVA – the capital city Bratislava’s location on the banks of the River Danube and at the crossroads of ancient trading routes right at the heart of Europe predestined it to become a meeting point of various cultures half a million inhabitants and a leading centre of the economy half a million inhabitants and a leading centre of the economy nowadays, Bratislava is one of the most rapidly growing urban regions of Europe nowadays, Bratislava is one of the most rapidly growing urban regions of Europe

COMENIUS UNIVERSITY Šafárikovo sq.6, Bratislava founded on June 27th, 1919 and follows the university tradition of the Academia Istropolitana which was established in Bratislava by Matthias Corvinus, the Hungarian King, in 1465 founded on June 27th, 1919 and follows the university tradition of the Academia Istropolitana which was established in Bratislava by Matthias Corvinus, the Hungarian King, in 1465 the largest and the oldest university in the Slovak republic with full acreditation the largest and the oldest university in the Slovak republic with full acreditation consists of 13 faculties, including Faculty of Law consists of 13 faculties, including Faculty of Law

Institute of International Relations and Approximation of Law Jean Monnet Chair Šafárikovo sq.6, Bratislava established in 1992 for training and education of diplomatic service employees, for education in international relations and European Union issues established in 1992 for training and education of diplomatic service employees, for education in international relations and European Union issues provides three-semester postgraduate study, not depending on the previous specialization provides three-semester postgraduate study, not depending on the previous specialization

STUDY INFORMATION the study is realised according to the Act No. 131/2002 Coll. on Universities and Act No Coll. on Continuing Education and Study Regulation of Institute of International Relations and Approximation of Law, Faculty of Law, CU Bratislava the study is realised according to the Act No. 131/2002 Coll. on Universities and Act No Coll. on Continuing Education and Study Regulation of Institute of International Relations and Approximation of Law, Faculty of Law, CU Bratislava beginning of the study is identical with the academic year beginning of the study is identical with the academic year

STUDY INFORMATION according to the current schedule for specific semester, the study is focused on: according to the current schedule for specific semester, the study is focused on: - International Relations - Diplomatic and Consular Agenda - History - Legal Disciplines - Geopolitics - Two foreign languages courses in English and French Language are included courses in English and French Language are included

Additional students´ activities Conferences Conferences Non-formal meetings with diplomats and interested personalities of public life Non-formal meetings with diplomats and interested personalities of public life Traineeship at Ministry of Foreign Affairs SR and other institutions of civil service Traineeship at Ministry of Foreign Affairs SR and other institutions of civil service Possibility to publish Possibility to publish Foreign Traineeships Foreign Traineeships

Graduate career realization Civil Service Institutions Civil Service Institutions Diplomatic Service Diplomatic Service Bank Sector Bank Sector International Trade International Trade EU Institutions EU Institutions

General information on the Slovak Republic Area: km2 Area: km2 Population: Population: Currency: Slovak crown (SKK) Currency: Slovak crown (SKK) Official language: Slovak Official language: Slovak Capital: Bratislava Capital: Bratislava

General information on the Slovak Republic Date of state establishment: Date of state establishment: Parliamentary republic with president and prime minister on the top Parliamentary republic with president and prime minister on the top Power allocation: executive, legislative and judiciary Power allocation: executive, legislative and judiciary

MACROECONOMIC OVERVIEW GDP for 2007: SKK 1.851,8 billion – 10,4% higher than in year 2006 GDP for 2007: SKK 1.851,8 billion – 10,4% higher than in year 2006 Unemployment rate in 2008 according to Eurostat: 9,9% Unemployment rate in 2008 according to Eurostat: 9,9% 19% flat tax, including 19% VAT; no tax on dividends 19% flat tax, including 19% VAT; no tax on dividends

MACROECONOMIC OVERVIEW International Membership: International Membership: –OSN –OECD –WTO –Visegrad Group –NATO –EU

MACROECONOMIC OVERVIEW Slovakia is generally recognized as an open market economy whose ability and willingness to pay its liabilities puts it, pursuant to prestigious rating agencies, into the investment level Slovakia is generally recognized as an open market economy whose ability and willingness to pay its liabilities puts it, pursuant to prestigious rating agencies, into the investment level one of the most progressive economics within European Union one of the most progressive economics within European Union

MACROECONOMICS OVERVIEW Cheap and skilled labor force Cheap and skilled labor force liberal labor code liberal labor code stable economic indicators stable economic indicators new regulations for the product, capital and labor markets new regulations for the product, capital and labor markets structural reforms structural reforms

LEGAL SYSTEM  The private and commercial law is based on the continental law system – binding are the legal provisions, not the case law  Decentralized public administration  The principal act governing the state system is the Constitution of the Slovak republic under the supervision of the Constitutional Court

LEGAL SYSTEM  Two-level court system: - District courts are competent for proceedings at the first instance - Regional courts hear cases as appeal courts - Regional courts hear cases as appeal courts - The Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic has the function of an appellate review court. Being the supreme judicial body the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic never acts as a first instance court

COURT SYSTEM Constitutional Court Supreme Court 8 Regional Courts 54 District Courts Special Court

Slovak republic and the European Union  Accession: 1 of May 2004  Number of representatives in European Parliament: 14  Voices in the European Commision: 7  Representative in EC: Ján Figeľ - commisary for education and culture  Planed Euro adoption:

Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) the process of harmonising the economic and monetary policies of the Member States of the Union with a view to the introduction of a single currency, the euro the process of harmonising the economic and monetary policies of the Member States of the Union with a view to the introduction of a single currency, the euro

Euro area Member States Non-euro area Member States Euro area Member States Non-euro area Member States

Three stages of EMU EMU was achieved in three stages: 1. First stage (1 July 1990 to 31 December 1993): - free movement of capital between Member States, closer coordination of economic policies and closer cooperation between central banks

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

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

Economic and Monetary Union three Member States did not adopt the single currency: the United Kingdom and Denmark, both of which have an opt-out clause, and Sweden, following a referendum in September 2003 three Member States did not adopt the single currency: the United Kingdom and Denmark, both of which have an opt-out clause, and Sweden, following a referendum in September 2003

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

The Convergence Criteria price stability: the rate of inflation may not exceed the average rates of inflation of the three member states with the lowest inflation by more than 1.5 %; price stability: the rate of inflation may not exceed the average rates of inflation of the three member states with the lowest inflation by more than 1.5 %; inflation: long-term interest rates may not vary by more than 2 % in relation to the average interest rates of the three member states with the lowest inflation; inflation: long-term interest rates may not vary by more than 2 % in relation to the average interest rates of the three member states with the lowest inflation;

The Convergence Criteria deficits: national budget deficits must be below 3 % of GDP; deficits: national budget deficits must be below 3 % of GDP; public debt: this may not exceed 60 % of GDP; public debt: this may not exceed 60 % of GDP; exchange rate stability: exchange rates must have remained within the authorised margin of fluctuation for the previous two years exchange rate stability: exchange rates must have remained within the authorised margin of fluctuation for the previous two years

Process of accession to join the European Union, a state needs to fulfill the economic and political conditions generally known as the Copenhagen criteria: to join the European Union, a state needs to fulfill the economic and political conditions generally known as the Copenhagen criteria:Copenhagen criteriaCopenhagen criteria  the candidate country has to achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and, protection of minorities, the existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union democracyrule of lawhuman rights minorities market economy democracyrule of lawhuman rights minorities market economy

Process of accession  membership presupposes the candidate's ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union  political, economic and legal reforms within the terms of EU model are reaquired According to the EU Treaty, each current member state and also the European Parliament have to agree to any enlargement According to the EU Treaty, each current member state and also the European Parliament have to agree to any enlargement

ASSOCIATION TREATY SR signed the ‘Association Treaty’, wich came into effect SR signed the ‘Association Treaty’, wich came into effect it set out the legal frame for aproximation of Slovak law with the law of European Commuities it set out the legal frame for aproximation of Slovak law with the law of European Commuities

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

ASSOCIATION TREATY the Constitution was amended in the year 2001 and it included the so called “integration clauses”: the Constitution was amended in the year 2001 and it included the so called “integration clauses”:  Article 7(2) reads: “The Slovak republic may, by an international treaty ratified and promulgated as stipulated by law, or on the basis of such treaty, transfer the execution of a part of its rights to the European Communities and European Union.

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

Association Proceedings December 1999 – European Counsel decided at the Helsing summit to invite Slovak Repbublic on negotiations for joining EU December 1999 – European Counsel decided at the Helsing summit to invite Slovak Repbublic on negotiations for joining EU March 2000 – official negotiations in Brussels took part; Slovak Republic negotiated in 31 negotiating sections March 2000 – official negotiations in Brussels took part; Slovak Republic negotiated in 31 negotiating sections

ACCESSION TREATY 2003 The Treaty of Accession 2003 was the agreement between the EU and 10 countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia), concerning these countries' accession into the EU. At the same time it changed a number of points which were originally laid down in the Treaty of Nice The Treaty of Accession 2003 was the agreement between the EU and 10 countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia), concerning these countries' accession into the EU. At the same time it changed a number of points which were originally laid down in the Treaty of Nice The treaty was signed on April 16, 2003 in Athens, Greece and it entered into force on May 1, 2004 the day of the enlargement of the European Union The treaty was signed on April 16, 2003 in Athens, Greece and it entered into force on May 1, 2004 the day of the enlargement of the European Union

ACCESSION TREATY 2003 The Treaty of Accession 2003 modifies: The Treaty of Accession 2003 modifies:  the Treaty of Rome (Treaty establishing the European Community)  the Euratom Treaty and  the Maastricht (Treaty forming the European)  as well as other acts which together form the current legal framework (acquis) of the EU

ACCESSION TREATY 2003 changes include the way that the Qualified Majority Voting is handled in the Council of the European Union changes include the way that the Qualified Majority Voting is handled in the Council of the European Union

COMENIUS UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF LAW Institute for International Relations and Law Aproximation Bratislava