Slovakia could very well next year be released from the "sin-bin" of procedures related to EU-member states that must make huge cuts in their excessive deficits, said European Commission Vice-president Maroš Šefčovič on Thursday. Speaking after the regular government session on Wednesday, during which he communicated to the Government the European Commission's advice to individual EU-member states, Šefčovič said that the Commission is pleased with Slovakia's efforts concerning consolidation of public finances over the past year.
The Commission especially praised the pension reform, proposals for changes to the education sector and the amendment to legislation on public procurements. At the same time, it emphasised that the country needs to continue to reform its health-care system and make its labour market more efficient. According to Šefčovič, the evaluation indicates that a year of hard work has paid off. “It will most probably help Slovakia detach itself from countries with deficits higher than 3 percent [of GDP] as early as in 2014.”
