Slovakia should focus on meeting the budgetary target next year, but should also consider the long-term sustainability of public finances, according to the European Commission's spring recommendations for Slovakia. In particular, the Commission draws attention to the constitutional capping of the retirement age at 64 adopted in March this year, which abolished the automatic increase of the retirement age with regard to life expectancy. "So far, no offsetting measures have been presented and neither has the impact been calculated on old-age income and poverty," the European Commission states in its report.
The Commission also recommended that Slovakia should improve the quality and inclusiveness of education at all levels, promote skills and improve access to affordable and high-quality childcare and long-term care. It should also promote the integration of disadvantaged groups, especially Roma ethnics. Its economic policy should target investments in healthcare, research and innovation, transport, digital infrastructure, energy efficiency, SME competitiveness and social housing, taking into account regional disparities. Slovakia should also continue to improve the efficiency of the judicial system and focus on strengthening its independence, including in the appointment of judges. Increasing efforts to detect and prosecute corruption, especially in large-scale corruption cases is also on the list of recommendations. Slovak authorities will report on how they plan to implement them.
