Key Findings
Best practice (100% score)
Rights associated with labour market access
Unfavourable
Eligibility for and security of nationality
Political participation
Critically unfavourable (0% score)
Consultative bodies and implementation policies for political participation
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Overview
Slovakia considers itself less a country of immigration or emigration, and more a country of transit and cross-border mobility. Negligible immigration flows have doubled since 2003, whilst irregular migration and asylum seeking continue to decline. EU accession has not led to great waves of emigration as it has in other EU-8 countries. The major country of both origin and destination remains the Czech Republic.
Like the Polish government, the Slovak government believes a key problem to integration is a lack of interest amongst refugees and immigrants to settle in the country(1). Nevertheless, in 2005 the government adopted a "Concept of Migration Policy." Other legislative action has concentrated on the recognition of skills and foreign qualifications and easing visa and residence permit requirements for EU, EEA and OECD citizens.
Slovakia's policies on labour market access, long-term residence, and anti-discrimination score around halfway to best practice. Out of the 28 MIPEX countries, Slovakia has the 3rd lowest score on political participation and the 4th lowest on family reunion.
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Integration Policy Timeline
18/10/2005
Constitutional Court considered positive action and special equality measures not in accordance with Constitution
12/2005
3 amendments to 2002 Act on Residence of Foreigners allowed residence permits for family reunion and specified conditions for long-term residence
2006
Eurostat found Slovakia to be the only EU-8 country where a majority (60%) consider long-distance mobility to be positive for the individual
13/08/2006
European Commission raised an objection to Anti-Discrimination Act's ‘incomplete' definition of discrimination
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Migrant Profile
