1. Accession of Slovakia into EU: Implications at the national level 23. August. 2007

2. PositiveNegative More pressure to safeguard the environment => cross compliance Some highly contaminated areas will be recovering (e.g. nitrate vulnerable zone), nitrate directive People becoming more aware of environment because of policies favourize landscape and rural tourism EU funding encourage to do a balance between economic and envir. Values of forest: new actions are taken to put in value the social & envir. aspects of forest Better environment on national level: funds are available for waste management on local lever (envir.is national and global issue) Increase of the envir.standards & better monitoring capacity Accession of Slovakia into EU: Implications at the national level Environment

3. PositiveNegative Employment is increasing because funds encourage investment Human capital is increasing: learning process with project formulation On a longer term the educational level of active population will increase All over the country LEADER will encourage gradually new sector development in rural areas LEADER encourages better governance & better institutions & also new forms of enterprises and government (socio-econ) Funds increase the transparency and good governance through monitoring and evaluation process EU is promoting social intergation of roma community with social criteria for funds allocation (e.g. % of roma population) Lack of knowledge of some beneficiaries will increase gaps between groups: different financial capacity & knowledge to access funds In agriculture funds that support technology & mechanisation reduce agricultural employment (e.g. in SOP) More demand only for high skilled labour: negative impact for low skilled labour during transition The actual framework does not encourage partnership & coordination between ministries (e.g. in SOP) Some funds increase disparities between regions (at the same time increase national competitiveness): horizontal program logic Few money for rural dev.policy because money is used for ‘top-up’ in agriculture: do not encourage new sector development in rural areas Emigration of skilled population to other EU states Social Accession of Slovakia into EU: Implications at the national level

4. PositiveNegative Investment in new technologies and mechanisation is increasing product quality & productivity: enhance national competitiveness Support of land consalidation will increase investment & economic potential of agric.land Direct payment & market regulation within the EU allows stable income for national agric.producers EU citizenship allow to increase tourism in SK Help SK to have a good business environment: economic zone Envir.norms bringing some companies out of business (e.g. smaller businesses: lack of financial capacities for compulsory envir.investment) Agric quotas limit of production despite bigger production capacities Economic Accession of Slovakia into EU: Implications at the national level