Slovakia - First we take NATO, then the EU

This is turning out to be a busy political year for the Slovak Republic. And the Autumn looks set to be the busiest period. Not only will Slovaks go to the polls in September, but there are also over 20 pieces of legislation that the ruling coalition hopes to pass by then to ensure Slovakia stays on course for accession to the European Union by 2004.

Prime Minister Miklus Dzurinda’s coalition government has been pushing ahead with political, economic, and social reform. Dzurinda has 60 percent of the country on his side. The people see the EU as a way to a strong economy, new jobs, and better services in schools and hospitals.

Not everyone’s happy

But the government’s endeavours have also met with criticism. Many feel change is still too slow.

Michal Vasecka of the Institute for Public Affairs, in the Slovak capital of Bratislava, says the previous government, lead by the nationalist Vladimir Meciar, left ruins in its wake and that’s causing delays.

"Thanks to Meciar there were quite important deficits of democracy. On the way to catch up Slovakia’s made, I strongly believe, dramatic moves forward, and in many respects Slovakia is now pretty much comparable with its neighbours, and the truth is that the economy of Slovakia is in pretty good shape, and life of people is improving," Vasecka says.

In particular need of attention is eastern Slovakia where unemployment rages at around 30 percent. In Bratislava, the figure’s more like three percent. Though foreign investors US Steel in the eastern city of Kosice, and Volkswagen Bratislava have given the economy a much needed shot in the arm, creating thousands of jobs, Slovaks are desperate to attract more money from abroad.

Corruption is also a problem, and has been criticised by the EU. It’s rife in the health services, the judicial system and in some governing bodies. These are major obstacles that, if Slovakia is to stand any chance of joining the EU, will have to be brought in line with EU standards by mid-September.

The biggest stick in the spokes

The greatest fear, however, is that Vladimir Meciar, infamous for his autocratic and nationalist doctrine while in office from 1993-1998, may return to power this autumn. Meciar’s party, Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, the HZDS, leads election opinion polls. His potential return could harm Slovakia’s chances of joining the EU.

In the 1998 elections, Meciar won on around 28 percent of the vote, but was kept from power by a broad coalition. That’s likely to happen again with a similar grouping of minor political parties, including the populist SMER party, the Hungarian coalition, the Christian Democrats and current Prime Minister Dzurinda’s Slovak Democratic Christian Union – a coalition to cajole European acceptance.

Good references

In terms of foreign policy, NATO has been quick to praise Slovakia’s military reform. That’s praise that Slovak’s have welcomed because it’s hoped that membership to NATO will ease the process of European integration.

Indeed, Slovakia’s hoping to join NATO before the European Union. And that as soon as November when the North Atlantic alliance meets in Prague.

Slovak Defence Minister, Joseph Stank, feels NATO membership will come in recognition of the changing face of the young state since it broke away peacefully from Czechoslovakia in 1993.

‘It’s very important for us to be recognised as a democratic nation. And an invitation to NATO is recognition of our democratic state. One which can take part in political and military decisions beyond its borders.’

Slovakia is doing all it can to meet EU requirements - perhaps too much - to please the European Commission in Brussels. But while joining the EU is vital for Slovakia’s further economic and social development, it seems that what it really needs is not more money, but an encouraging hand from its neighbours in Europe.