Advanced search
image
Travel & living abroad

Europe

Slovakia

 Flag of Slovakia
Last reviewed: 5 December 2008

Country information

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Slovakia's Relations with the International Community

The European Union

The Slovak Republic became a full member of the European Union on 1 May 2004, having signed the Accession Treaty in Athens on 16 April 2003. The EU membership referendum held on 16-17 May 2003 gave backing to membership with a 92% vote in favour. In April 2008 Slovakia ratified the Treaty of Lisbon.

Mikulas Dzurinda's government had since 1998 sought to win back the trust of the countries of the European Union and NATO and to catch up as quickly as possible with progress made by the other Visegrad countries (Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary) towards West European integration. Numerous concrete reforms in economic, domestic and foreign policy helped the Slovaks to achieve this.

OECD

In December 2000, Slovakia became the 30th official member of the OECD.

NATO

Slovakia signed the NATO Accession Protocol on 26 April 2003 and became a member of NATO on 2 April 2004. The accession of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland to NATO in March 1999, and the outbreak of armed conflict in Yugoslavia, were important influences on Slovakia’s policy. Slovakia has since contributed to a number of NATO peacekeeping missions including Bosnia, Kosovo, Cyprus and the Golan Heights.

Slovakia's relations with the UK

Bilateral relations are excellent. The British Embassy, British Council and BBC World Service enjoy a high and positive profile in Slovakia, and the UK's commercial presence is growing rapidly. British tourists also number prominently among the million or so visitors who flock to Slovakia each year.

Defence

In recent years we have developed close defence links with Slovakia on her path to NATO membership and integration. We continue to cooperate in a number of defence areas providing training opportunities, reciprocal visits and advice on defence issues, through our Defence Relations Activity Programme.

UK Development Assistance

Between 1993 - 2003 the Department for International Development (DfID) provided assistance to Slovakia through the Know How Fund, disbursing over £14m of technical assistance. This was designed to help Slovakia achieve successful transition to a pluralist democracy and well regulated market economy. The UK has continued to help Slovakia with its development as a new EU Member State. To this end there has been a range of projects under the UK-Slovak Action Plan which ended on 31 March 2007.

Cultural Relations with the UK

There is a thriving British Council presence in Slovakia. The Council promotes English language teaching, educational partnerships and academic links, as well as exchanges in the arts, science and culture. It works with the Embassy and Slovak partners to foster good governance.

Recent Visits

Inward

  • Mikulas Dzurinda, Prime Minister - April 2003
  • Pavol Hrusovsky, Chair of the Slovak National Council and Leader of KDH Party – March 2004
  • Pal Csaky, Deputy Prime Minister – two visits in October 2004
  • Dr. Vladimir Palko, Interior Minister – October 2004
  • Robert Fico, Prime Minister (then opposition leader) April 2006
  • Jan Mikulaj, Minister for Education - January 2007
  • Jan Kubis, Foreign Minister - January 2007
  • Robert Fico, Prime Minister– June 2007
  • Robert Fico, Prime Minister – March 2008

Outward

  • Adam Ingram, Minister for Armed Forces – Jan 2004
  • Denis MacShane, Minister for Europe – 1 May 2004
  • Lord Mayor of London – July 2004
  • Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport and Tourism - October 2004
  • Ivor Caplin, Under Sec of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans - October 2004
  • Baroness Scotland, Home Office Minister of State – February 2005
  • Stephen Ladyman, Minister for Transport, June 2005
  • John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister - June 2005
  • HRH, The Duke of York, UK Special Representative for Trade and Investment, October 2005
  • Baroness Ashton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, November 2005
  • Tony Blair, Prime Minister - March 2006
  • HM The Queen and HRH Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh: 23-24 October 2008 (State Visit) 

Country information

Pick Another Country :

Share this with:

Travel Advice

Travel advice: Slovakia

See Also


Useful Links


Contacts

Slovak Republic

Address:

Embassy of the Slovak Republic
25 Kensington Palace Gardens
London W8 4QY

Telephone:

(020) 7243 0803
(020) 7313 6470
(020) 7313 6481
(020) 7313 6493 (Commmercial)
(020) 7792 0215 (Defence)


 

Fax:

(020) 7792 0215 (Defence)


Email: emb.london@mzv.sk
Email: Cons.london@mzv.sk (Consular)


Website: www.slovakembassy.co.uk
Website: www.slovakembassy-cd-london.co.uk (Commercial)

Office hours:

Mon-Thurs: 0830-1645
Fri: 0830-1530
Mon and Wed: 0900-1200 and 1400-1600 (Consular and Visa)
Tues, Thurs and Fri: 0900-1200 (Consular and Visa)