The EU Commission has published an updated version of its regional competitiveness index. This measures how effective various regions are at removing barriers that may cause poverty in the region and also how well they promote conditions for balanced development and progress. Out of 28 countries, Slovakia’s position has dropped slightly from 20th to 22nd. When analysed on a regional basis within Slovakia, the news gets slightly worse.
For example, Bratislava has slipped from 66th to 87th. In fact all regions in Slovakia suffered a fall judged by the eleven criteria in the index. Pride of place in the index goes to the Netherland, and specifically the city of Utrecht.
Christopher George
