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SLOVAKIA

Slovak economic and social Committee´s Opinion on the measures to mitigate the impact of economic crisis on the Slovak economy

Slovakia is currently experiencing great disillusionment: After years of high dynamic economic growth of our economy, and from January 2009 Slovakia joined the Euro zone, it appears to be a big advantage for Slovakia now, due to world economic crisis, we survived the first negative impacts of adverse economic and social realities. This concrete impact seriously shocked the population and its social securities.

Slovak Economic and Social Committee welcomes the efforts of the Government of Slovak republic on the effects of global economic crisis on Slovakia, finding measures to sustain the economic activities of large, medium and small entrepreneurs in Slovakia and search for measures to help socially disadvantaged citizen.

In terms of the measures gradually adopted by the Slovak Government, we point out the important fact that all measures are after the consultations with the social partners. Better results are achieved, where the Government conducted an intensive social dialogue and Government looking consensus with the social partners in the adoption of solutions. We recommend and fully support this way on the European Union level too.

Slovak economic and social Committee considers essential the following factors:

·  specific measures to further improve the business environment, with special attention given to small and medium-sized businesses

·  measures of social nature must be strictly confined to sustain economic activity, because only in the efficient and effective economy can be made responsible social policy

·  Maintaining an adequate level of employment.

·  responsible for policy spending of EU funds is not tied only to the period of crisis, but due to the fact that the National Strategic Reference Framework to 2013 sets its priorities in the period of intensive growth of Slovak economy, and therefore should review its priorities for the current needs of Slovak society and the economy, which is particularly positive economic growth and the creation of an adequate level of employment. We call upon the competent EU - authorities, in this difficult economic and social situation, take effective measures to regulate the use the eurofonds so quickly that helped jump-start economic growth.

We consider for a very important the education and increase its quality and direction were tied to the needs of the economy, to business and self-employment, as well as professional and technical occupations.

The Slovak ESC is convinced that the current period of crisis, in which Slovakia is located along with other countries, should be used positively in the public sector investment in infrastructure (highways, railways and regional airports, etc) , further investment in energy, particularly in renewable and non-traditional energy sources, as well as developing new programs based on the innovative nature of the domestic applied research, which is subject to the banking-financial policy for the creation of start-up schemes and venture capital.

Rapid global economic crisis puts increasing demands for flexibility employers, employees and various interests groups, actively working in the European and Slovak Economic and Social Committee too.

Vladimir Báleš
President, Slovak ESC / Jan Lipiansky
Secretary general, Slovak ESC