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Slovakia
General InformationThe Republic of Slovakia is located in central Europe. The country covers an area of about 49,012 sq. km. It is bounded by the Czech Republic to the north west; by Poland to the north; by Ukraine to the east; by Hungary to the south; and by Austria to the south west. The capital and largest city is Bratislava. The official state language is Slovak. The unit of currency is the koruna. | ||
Historical BackgroundThe Slovaks are descendants of a Slavic people who settled near the Danube between 400 and 500 AD. Slovakia existed as part of Hungary from the beginning of the 10th century until 1918, when it united with the Czech lands of Bohemia and Moravia, in addition to a small part of Silesia, to form Czechoslovakia. In 1939, Slovakia declared its independence, but in 1945 it was reunited with the rest of Czechoslovakia. From 1948 until 1989, Czechoslovakia was under the Communist rule. In 1968, popular discontent was suppressed by Soviet troops assisted by other Communist countries of Eastern Europe. In 1989, due to revolts in the country, the Communist government resigned. The country's first multiparty elections were held in June 1990. In 1993, the country was dissolved, and Slovakia and the Czech Republic became independent. A new Constitution of Slovakia was adopted in 1992 and went into effect in January 1993. The first parliamentary elections of independent Slovakia were held in 1994. | ||
GovernmentThe head of state is a president elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The president is responsible for naming a prime minister, who is typically the leader of the party with the majority of seats in parliament. Under the advice of the prime minister, the president appoints a Cabinet. The legislature is a unicameral National Council. It consists of 150 members elected for a four-year term by popular vote. The judiciary system includes the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, regional and district courts, and the military court. Slovakia is administratively divided into 8 regions and 79 districts. The regions are directly subordinated to the federal government, and regional officials are nominated by federal parliament. Administrative districts are directly subordinated to the regions, and their officials are elected by people. | ||
Population
In 2006, the population of Slovakia was estimated at 5,4 mln. An average population density is 111 persons per sq. km. Some 58 percent of the population reside in urban areas. Slovaks comprise about 86 percent of the population. The remainder includes Hungarians (about 11 percent), Roma (less than 2 percent), and small numbers of Czechs, Moravians, Silesians, Ruthenians, Ukrainians, Poles and Germans. About 68 percent of Slovaks are Roman Catholics. Protestant churches, including the Slovak Evangelical Church and the Reformed Christian Church, are also widely supported, claiming about 11 percent of the population as members. The Orthodox and Uniate churches maintain active followings among the Ruthenians and Ukrainians of Eastern Slovakia.
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EconomyService sector employs 54 percent of the workforce. Agriculture employs 7 percent of the workforce. The principal crops are wheat, barley, maize, sugar beets, and potatoes. Viticulture is practised on mountain slopes, and some tobacco is grown in the Vah River valley. The breeding of live stock is also vital. Industry employs 39 percent of the workforce. Manufacturing is one of the most important sectors of the Slovak economy and includes ceramics, chemical products, machinery, petroleum products, steel, and textiles. The production of processed food is also weighty. The weapons industry has been revived somewhat in recent years; military equipment produced in Slovakia is now primarily exported. Exports include machinery, chemicals, fuels, steel, and weapons. In the mid 1990s, the Czech Republic was Slovakia's main trading partner. Other leading purchasers of exports are Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and the United States. Crude oil, natural gas, machinery and transportation equipment are Slovakia's main imports. | ||
Social SystemEducation is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 15. After completing primary school, students may choose among three types of secondary education: vocational or technical schools, schools of general education, or teacher training institutes. Slovakia has 14 institutions of higher education. Comenius University of Bratislava (founded in 1467) is the country's oldest university. Technical universities are located in Bratislava, Kosice, Zilina, and Nitra. The health care system is run largely by the state, and citizens continue to receive low cost health care. A national insurance company was opened in 1993; payments into the company's funds are made by employers, employees, self employed, and the state. | ||
Membership in International OrganisationsSlovakia is a member of the United Nations and a number of its specialised agencies (UN High Commissioner for Refugees, International Labour Organisation, UNESCO, World Health Organisation, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and International Monetary Fund), the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the Central European Initiative. It is a full member of the International Organisation for Migration. Slovakia is member of the World Trade Organisation and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. In April 2004, the country joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. In 1995, Slovakia applied to join the European Union (EU) and entered into negotiations for full EU membership in February 2000. In May 2004, Slovakia and nine other countries joined the EU as full members. | ||
Legislation on Migration and AsylumThe migration and asylum issues are regulated by the following main legal documents:
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Participation in International and Regional InitiativesSlovakia participates in the following international and regional initiatives in the field of asylum, migration and border management:
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