Slovakia is doing well in terms of its economy, but it is lagging behind in areas that are of key importance for future growth, states the European Commission (EC) in its Country Report Slovakia 2019 released on Wednesday.
Overall, the Commission views the quality and efficiency of public institutions in Slovakia as low. Despite efforts at simplification, lengthy public procurement processes still threaten the drawing of EU funds. Moreover, several international indicators show that Slovakia is one of the worst countries in the EU in terms of corruption. According to the report, 45 percent of Slovakia's population thinks that there is widespread receiving of bribes among police officers, as well as misuse of their authority for personal gain. The number of large corruption investigations has slightly increased, yet according to the commission, it remains generally very low. Although the judicial system shows signs of improvement, challenges concerning the effectiveness, quality and independence of the judiciary persist.
In the field of education, the Commission praises a measure prepared for reducing the age of compulsory school attendance and the creation of an independent accreditation agency. Among negative factors, it mentioned worsening study results among pupils and persisting low expenditures on education. The Commission also noted a general drop in public expenditures on research and innovation.
