SLOVAK REPUBLIC
S L O V A K R E P U B L I C
P u b l l i i c A d m i i n i i s t r a t i i o n
C o u n t r y P r o f f i i l l e
Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM)
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
United Nations
May 2004
All papers, statistics and materials contained in the Country Profiles express entirely the opinion of the mentioned authors.
They should not, unless otherwise mentioned, be attributed to the Secretariat of the United Nations.
The designations employed and the presentation of material on maps in the Country Profiles do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Table of Contents
1.4 Public Sector Employment and Wages....................................................... 4
6.1 e-Government Readiness .......................................................................15
1
Slovak Republic
Click here for detailed map
S L O V A K I I A
Government type
Parliamentary democracy
Independence
January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and
Slovakia)
Constitution
Adopted 1 September 1992; amended in 1998, 1999 and
2001 i (in brief)
Legal system:
Civil law system based on Austro-
Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory International Court of
Justice jurisdiction.
Source: The World Factbook - Slovakia i
ICL - Slovakia
2
Source: The World Factbook - Slovakia
Administrative divisions
8 Higher-Tier Territorial Units, 8 regions , and 79 districts ii
Beginning in November 1989, the "Velvet
Revolution" led to the downfall of communist rule in Czechoslovakia. A transition government was formed in December
1989. In 1992, agreement was reached to peacefully divide Czechoslovakia.
The Movement for a Democratic Slovakia
(HZDS) ruled Slovakia for most of its first
5 years as an independent state. In 1998, a coalition led by Mikulas Dzurinda won the parliamentary elections. The elections in September 2002 brought another term, however, the government lost its narrow parliamentary majority in 2003.
Source: U.S. Department of State - Background Notes ii
The Slovak Republic Government Office
1 .
.
G e n e r a l l I n f f o r m a t t i i o n
1.1 People
Population
Total estimated population (,000), 2003
Female estimated population (,000), 2003
Male estimated population (,000), 2003
Sex ratio (males per 100 females), 2003
Slovakia
5,402
2,779
2,623
94
Average annual rate of change of pop. (%), 2000-2005
Youth and Elderly Population
Total population under age 15 (%), 2003
Female population aged 60+ (%), 2003
0.08
18
18
Male population aged 60+ (%), 2003
Human Settlements
Urban population (%), 2001
13
Rural population (%), 2001
58
42
Urban average annual rate of change in pop. (%), ‘00-‘05 0.42
Rural average annual rate of change in pop/ (%), ‘00-‘05
Education
-0.4
Total school life expectancy, 2000/2001
Female school life expectancy, 2000/2001
Male school life expectancy, 2000/2001
Female estimated adult (15+) illiteracy rate (%), 2001
13.1
13.2
13
..
.. Male estimated adult (15+) illiteracy rate (%), 2001
Employment
Unemployment rate (15+) (%), 2001
Female adult (+15) economic activity rate (%), 2001
Male adult (+15) economic activity rate (%), 2001
18.6
ii
53 v
68 v
Czech Rep. Hungary
a
10,235
5,254
4,981
95
9,877
5,171
4,706
91
-0.1
15
22
16
75
26
-0.03
-0.33
13.6
-0.46
16
24
16 b
65
35
-0.06
-1.34 d
13.7
13.6
13.6
i
13.8
i
13.4
i
..
..
0.8
0.5
8.1
iii 5.7
iv
51 46 iv
69 62 iv
1
1
1
2
2 e
1
2
2 c
Notes: i 1999/2000; ii 2000, Excluding persons on child-care leave; iii Fourth quarter of year; iv Aged 15 to 74 years; v De jure population
1.2 Economy Slovakia Czech Rep. Hungary
GDP
GDP total (millions US$), 2002 23,700 69,590 65,843
GDP per capita (US$), 2002
PPP GDP total (millions int. US$), 2002
PPP GDP per capita(int. US$), 2002
a
4,382 6,816 6,477
67,207 154,657 133,467
Sectors
Value added in agriculture (% of GDP), 2003
12,425 15,148 13,129 b
3.7 3.8
i 4.3
i
Value added in industry (% of GDP), 2003 29.7 39.6
i 31.2
i
Value added in services (% of GDP), 2003
Miscellaneous
66.6 56.7
i 64.5
i c
GDP implicit price deflator (annual % growth), 2003 4.7 2.9 7.8
Private consumption (% of GDP), 2003
Government consumption (% of GDP), 2003
55.3
20.9
52.8
i
21.4
i
67.0
10.9
Notes: i 2002
1 United Nations Statistics Division: a Statistics Division and Population Division of the UN Secretariat;
Secretariat; c
2
Population Division of the UN Secretariat; d1 b Statistics Division and Population Division of the UN
UNESCO ; d2 UNESCO; e1 ILO; e2 ILO/OECD
World Bank - Data and Statistics: a Quick Reference Tables; b Data Profile Tables ; c Country at a Glance
3
1.3 Public Spending
Public expenditures
Education (% of GNP), 1985-1987
Education (% of GNP), 1995-1997
Health (% of GDP), 1990
Health (% of GDP), 1998
Military (% of GDP), 1990
Military (% of GDP), 2000
Total debt service (% of GDP), 1990
Total debt service (% of GDP), 2000
Slovakia
..
4.7
5
5.7
..
1.8
2.1
13.5
Czech Rep.
..
5.1
i
4.8
6.6
ii
..
2
3
9.4
Hungary
Notes: i Data may not be strictly comparable with those for earlier years as a result of methodological changes; ii 1999
1.4 Public Sector Employment and Wages
Data from the latest year available
Slovakia
1991-1995
Slovakia
1996-2000
Europe &
Central Asia
average
1996-2000
Central &
Eastern
Europe average 4
1996-2000
Employment
24.9
Civilian Central Government
(% pop.) 1.25 0.46 0.61 0.45
Sub-national Government 5
Education employees
Health employees
Police
Armed forces
SOE Employees
Total Public Employment
17.6
(% pop.) 0.82 0.33 0.61
(,000) 172.0 ..
(% pop.) 3.22 .. 1.58
(,000) 127.0 ..
(% pop.) 2.38 .. 1.15
(,000) .. ..
(% pop.) .. .. 0.68
(,000) .. ..
(% pop.) .. .. 0.87
(,000) .. ..
(% pop.) .. .. 20.08
(,000) .. ..
(% pop.) .. .. ..
Wages
Total Central gov't wage bill
Total Central gov’t wage bill
(% of GDP)
(% of exp)
Average gov't wage
Real ave. gov’t wage ('97 price)
(,000 LCU)
(,000 LCU)
Average gov’t wage to per capita GDP ratio
0.7
..
62
107
1.0
3.7
13.3
112
119
1.0
5.9
13.1
6.3
0.45
1.43
1.04
0.31
0.77
8.28
..
6.7
14.4
1.1
5.6
4.6
i
..
5.2
2.5
1.5
12.8
17.4
Middle income group average 4
1996-2000
0.59
0.30
0.46
3.61
6.05
0.59
1.20
0.70
8.5
21.6
4.2 a a b
b
3 UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 a Data refer to total public expenditure on education, including current and capital expenditures. b As a result of a number of limitations in the data, comparisons of military expenditure data over time and across countries should be made with caution. For detailed notes on the data see SIPRI (2001).
4
Averages for regions and sub regions are only generated if data is available for at least 35% of the countries in that region or sub region.
5 Excluding education, health and police – if available (view Country Sources for further explanations).
4
2 .
.
L e g a l l S t t r u c t t u r e
2.1 Legislative Branch
Unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
women in parliament: 29 out of 150 seats: (19%).
The National Council of the Slovak Republic is the sole constitutional and legislative body of the Slovak Republic. It is the body of state authority and the status of other state bodies in
Slovakia is derived from its primary status.
Members of the Parliament are elected by universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. There are 150 Members of
Parliament elected for a four-year term.
The National Council also discharges its power through elections, which is assigned to it by respective laws (Act no. 80/1990 Coll. on Elections to the Slovak National Council, as amended).
Fact box: elections : last held 20-
21 September 2002
(next to be held
September 2006) election results: seats by party - governing coalition 78 (SDKU 28,
Powers of the National Council are determined by its constitutional status within the system of exercise of power. It is divided into: 1) Legislative power; 2) Power of scrutiny; 3) Power to create state bodies; and 4) Domestic and foreign policy powers.
SMK 20, KDH 15, ANO
15), opposition 72
(HZDS 36, SMER 25,
KSS 11) (as of
February 2003, 12 deputies had split from
HZDS and formed an independent faction)
The National Council considers and approves the Constitution, constitutional statutes and other laws and it controls their upholding. Its legal acts regulate relationships that arise in all spheres of social, political and economic life of the Slovak Republic.
The method of law-making and the details of procedure of the drafting of laws, debate on them and their form is laid down in the Legislative Rules of Law-making, published in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic as item no. 19/1997 Coll.
Source: National Council of the Slovak Republic - Status and Powers
2.2 Executive Branch cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: President elected by direct, popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 3 and 17 April
2004p; following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
In January 1999, Parliament passed a constitutional amendment allowing for direct election of the president. Virtually all executive powers of government belong to the prime minister, but the president does serve as commander in chief of the armed forces, can grant pardons, and has the right to return legislation to Parliament.
Parliament, however, can override this veto with a simple majority of all 150 members of Parliament.
Source: U.S. Department of State - Background Notes
6 Source of fact boxes if nothing else stated: The World Factbook - Slovakia
7 Inter-Parliamentary Union
-
Women in National Parliaments
5
The Government of the Slovak Republic (SR) is the head of the
Executive. It is made up of the Prime Minister, presiding over it, his or her Deputies and Government Ministers. The Government is appointed by the President of the Slovak Republic on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. For its policy and administration the Government is responsible to the SR National
Council (the Slovak parliament).
Fact box: chief of state: President
Ivan GASPAROVIC
(since 15 June 2004) -
59.9%. MECIAR -
40.1%.
head of government:
As the chief formulator of the nation's public policy under the SR
Constitution, the Government has the authority to make major policy on the matters of national economy and social security.
Acting in the best interests of the nation, it is responsible for meeting the Government program objectives within the scope of
Prime Minister Mikulas
DZURINDA (since 30
October 1998); Deputy
Prime Minister Pavol
RUSKO (since 24
September 2003) the adopted national budget. The main functions of the
Government also include making proposals on the state budget, preparing the annual closing balance sheet, and issue government regulations and decrees under power given to it by law.
The Government submits draft Bills to the Slovak parliament, which are frequently preceded by nationwide discussions and consultations with the relevant organizations. As established by law, the Government can discuss in its proceedings a confidence vote motion, cases of pardoning criminal offenders, and appointment or removal from office of senior civil servants.
Source: The Slovak Republic Government Office - Basic Information
Click here for Organizational Chart of the Office of the Government of the Slovak
Republic
2.3 Judiciary Branch
Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council); Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of nominees approved by the National Council).
The judicial system in Slovakia comprises three tiers: district courts, regional courts and the Supreme Court. At present, there are 55 district courts and 8 regional courts. Regional courts function both as courts of appeal to the district courts and, in certain cases, as courts of first instance. The Government is planning to reduce the number of district courts. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the country, working as a court of cassation, and as a court of appeal in cases dealt with at first instance by a regional court. Finally, the Constitutional Court is an independent authority, set up to protect compliance with the constitution.
Judicial independence is laid down in the constitution and in a number of laws. The relevant legislation provides for transparent and open recruitment procedures, as well as provisions for remuneration.
On the basis of a constitutional amendment adopted in 2001 a Judicial Council has been set up, comprising 18 members, nominated by the judiciary, the Ministry of
Justice, Parliament and the President of Slovakia. The Judicial Council decides, inter alia, on the assignment and transfer of judges, elects and recalls chairpersons of disciplinary court panels, and submits to the President proposals for appointing and recalling judges. It nominates also the candidates for the post of the President and
8 Electionworld.org
-
Slovakia
6
Vice President of the Supreme Court, and comments on draft budgets for the judiciary and on draft legislation concerning the organization of the judiciary.
Source: European Commission - Comprehensive monitoring report on Slovakia's preparations for membership (11/2003)
2.4 Local Government
By virtue of Slovak National Council Act 369/1990, a system combining local state administration and self-government replaced that of administrative authorities.
Under current legislation, local government is constituted in municipalities that are territorial and legal entities. Within limits set by law, local governments manage their own budgets and assets. With some statutory exceptions, local authorities are independent from state supervision. Local government authorities are elected directly by the local population. Elected mayors head municipal offices.
As of 31 December 1997, Slovakia’s 5,387,650 inhabitants resided in 2,871 municipalities— of which 136 had city status—and four military districts (governed by the Slovak Army and not by local self-government; according to the Slovak system of territorial division, these areas are recognized as specific municipalities). Over two-thirds of the total number of municipalities have fewer than one thousand inhabitants. Thus, the system of local government represents a highly nonintegrated structure (practically each settlement has municipality status), which has both positive and negative impact on the functioning of municipalities. This nonintegrated structure is one of the most important factors limiting the possibility for the massive transfer of responsibilities from the state administration to local self-government.
Special laws regulate the legal status of the city Košice and of the capital Bratislava.
According to Law 377/ 1990 Bratislava is legally a municipality, and designated sections of the city are also municipalities. The system in Košice is regulated by Law
401/1990and is organized similarly to that of Bratislava.
Source: LGI - Decentralization: Experiments and Reforms, vol.1, chapter 7 (2000)
Click here for text on Public Perception of Local Government in Slovakia
7
3 .
.
T h e S t t a t t e a n d C i i v i i l l S o c i i e t t y
3.1 Ombudsperson
The constitutional amendment from 2001 (Law No. 90/2001 Coll.) established a public protector of rights . This public protector of rights is an independent authority that shares the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of natural and legal persons in the stated extent and as defined by law. The ombudsman acts by activities, decision making or passivity of the public administration authorities if their activities, decision making or passivity contradicts to the legal order or the principles of the democratic state governed by the rule of law.
Source: Council of Europe (Venice Commission) - Republic of Slovakia: Further Constitutional Developments (2001)
On September 2001 the Government adopted the bill on the ombudsman, passed by the Parliament in March 2002 paving the way for the election of the first ombudsman, the official human rights advocate in Slovakia. Elected for five years, the ombudsman's office will be based in Bratislava/Pozsony with a staff of 16 including 7-8 lawyers. The ombudsman’s sphere of authority will be expanded to include monitoring state and local government institutions, health care units, medical insurance companies and prisons. Individuals belonging to national minorities can address the ombudsman's office in their native language and, if necessary, the state must provide for an interpreter
Source: Hungarian Human Rights Foundation - Slovakia
3.2 Civil Society and NGOs
Civil society in Slovakia is considered by most experts to be among the most dynamic in central Europe. In June 2002, Ministry of Interior listed 16,849 organizations that could be considered NGOs in a broad sense. Of these, 15,984 were civic associations (societies, clubs, associations, movements, trade unions) 479 were foundations, 281 non-investments funds (a special category of organization that collects money and spends it for a specific purpose) and 105 non-profit organizations. According to the Statistical Office, NGOs employ approximately 1 percent of the working population and account for approximately 1 percent of the country’s GDP. Opinion poll data on volunteerism is systematically increasing, though donating money is far more popular than volunteering.
The majority of NGO in Slovakia operate under legal norms adopted after the end of communism. The basic legislative framework for the work of NGOs is provided by the
Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression (Article 29), freedom of assembly (Article 28) and freedom of association (Articles 29 and 37), as well as by several laws. Registering an NGO is an easy process, and government regulations in this area do not restrict groups. The NGO sector in Slovakia has a well developed infrastructure, training base and research base.
Government bureaucracy is increasingly open to the non profit sector and often utilizes its expertise, in part because some key positions in the state administration are held by people who worked in NGOs before 1998.
Source: Freedom House - Nations in Transit (2003)
8
4 .
.
C i i v i i l l S e r v i i c e
Click here for the Civil Service Office.
4.1 Legal basis
The main pieces of legislation regulating public employment are the Act on Civil
Service (Act 312/ 2001 of 2 July 2001) for state civil servants and the Act on Public
Service (Act 313/2001 of 2 July 2001) for public employees at state, municipal and regional levels.
Source: Civil Service Office - Public Service and the Administrative Framework (2003)
The Civil Service Law includes provisions for mobility, recruitment, transfers and the right for training.
9 The key institution responsible for the implementation of the Civil
Service Law is the Civil Service Office, established in March 2002. Its functions range from recruitment, training and information to preparing secondary legislation. The relevant secondary legislation was enacted in 2002 and 2003, with some delays in the beginning.
Source: European Commission - Comprehensive monitoring report on Slovakia's preparations for membership (11/2003)
The scope of the civil service is defined by the Law. It basically includes positions with responsibility for the execution of state authority (Article 2), positions where administrative tasks or state affairs are handled. The execution of such tasks involves the capacity for management, decision making, inspection, professional preparation of decision, professional preparation of draft legislation or other generally binding legal regulations, including professional activities related to the discussion and approval of such instruments. The Law excludes political positions, such as MPs, members of the Government and the President and the Vice President of the State Audit Office, as well as judges and prosecutors.
In parallel with the Civil Service Act, a Public Service Act was adopted and enforced.
This Law covers the budgetary institutions, whose tasks are not linked to the execution of state authority. The Public Service Act is widely based on Labor Law, with some additional provisions to take account of the special situation within the public service. Specific provisions exist for teachers and the health services. Some specific provisions for municipal employees have been introduced in the Act on
Municipalities.
SIGMA (OECD & EU) - Public Service and the Administrative Framework (2002)
Click here for Analysis on practical implementation of the Civil Service Act.
4.2 Recruitment and Promotion
Under the new Civil Service Law, recruitment and promotion must be based on open competition and on the results of a selection procedure. Direct appointment without competition is only possible for superior officers in a political position and certain other superior officers (e.g. ministers, one secretary of state per ministry, and ambassadors). Vacancies must be announced in the Civil Service Gazette and in commercial newspapers. All positions in the civil service are open to outside applicants, as long as they fulfil the stated requirements for the position. Professional
9
SIGMA (OECD & EU) - Public Service and the Administrative Framework (2002)
9
experience acquired outside the civil service can be taken into account. All selection commissions have to be established by the Chairman of the Civil Service Office.
These commissions must consist of five members, at least three of whom are from the corresponding sector of the civil service. The selection commission assesses candidates on the basis of skills, professional knowledge, and other factors relevant to the vacant position, such as psychological aptitude.
In creating a professional civil service, the Civil Service Law provides for a screening process for all existing civil servants, within a transition period lasting up until 31
March 2004. The transitional provisions set down a procedure whereby all persons occupying a civil service position at the entry into force of the Act must reapply for their jobs. All those who apply will have to go through the legal recruitment procedure. If they fulfil the requirements for the position, they will be nominated to the interim (probationary) civil service and will have to undergo five days of compulsory training, followed by an examination before a recruitment commission.
Recruitment conducted during the first year under the new law has followed this pattern: announcement in commercial newspapers, subsequent written test to check the professional technical knowledge of candidates, interview by a recruitment committee (five members), and in certain cases an attitudinal psychological test, carried out on the basis of standard computer software. All candidates are informed about the “success criteria” before sitting the tests. The recruitment commission is only allowed to pose certain standardized questions to candidates.
The recruitment commission makes a list of candidates in the order of their scores, and the recruiting ministry makes the appointment. The minister cannot depart from the opinion of the recruitment commission. Finally, the best scored candidates are awarded civil service status by the Civil Service Office, which at the same time provides secretariat services to the recruitment commissions. Complaints about the recruitment process can be submitted to the Civil Service Office, but recourse in appeal is only possible before the court (in practice no appeal has been lodged so far). The recruitment procedure lasts between three weeks and two months.
Source: Civil Service Office - Public Service and the Administrative Framework (2003)
Recruitment on the basis of the Civil Service Law has started with some delays due to procedural problems. A recent amendment to the law empowering the head of the
Civil Service Office to delegate the competencies for recruitment to the service offices (e.g. ministries), however, has made it possible to speed up the recruitment process.
Source: European Commission - Comprehensive monitoring report on Slovakia's preparations for membership (11/2003)
Click here for Regulation on details of selection procedures related to civil service positions
4.3 Remuneration
The salary scheme for civil servants is regulated in articles 78-105 of the Civil
Service Act . Annex 1 of the Act sets out 9 salary classes, annex 2 lists 12 salary categories, and annex 3 quantifies the management bonus. The salary scheme is published with actual amounts, which were set without considering inflation (8% in
2002), as an annex to the Civil Service Law, and provides for 9 salary classes or tariffs (grades) and 12 salary categories (seniority steps with performance component). One of the amendments proposed by the Civil Service Office aims to
10 See also: Public Service and the Administrative Framework (2002)
10
increase the current number of 9 salary classes to 12 and to include in the highest classes those jobs having a key importance for the application of state policies while reducing the personal bonuses for such positions, as this change would represent increasing the basic salary for the positions concerned. Article 78 the Civil Service
Act defines the salary components.
Several shortcomings in the salary system have been identified by the Civil Service
Office. The main one refers to the “personal bonus” tied to performance appraisal and to the difficulties in finding candidates for a position (labour market supplement), as stipulated by article 85-1-a and b of the Civil Service Act. Currently only those scoring 4 (highly satisfactory) in the performance appraisal are entitled to the personal bonus. This has proven to be demotivating for those scoring well but not at a “highly satisfactory” level. Consequently, the system tends to demotivate the majority of employees, as only a few are scored as “highly satisfactory”.
Salaries are low, especially basic salaries. The average salary in public administration was about 16,509
11
SKK in 2002 (item “public administration and defence;
compulsory social security” according to the classification by the Slovak Institute of
Statistics) against an average for the whole economy of 13,511 SKK.
12
Ministry of Finance are the highest (about 21,000 SKK on average).
Source: Civil Service Office - Public Service and the Administrative Framework (2003)
4.4 Training
The law gives civil servants the right and obligation of training. A general training strategy exists, but its implementation in the central state administration is still limited. A central training institution operates, under the Ministry of the Interior and is funded from the budget, but its training activities are predominantly targeted to regional and local state governments. The Office of Government developed a separate training strategy for European integration and, based on this strategy, significant training has been carried out. The Civil Service Office has taken over the responsibility from the Ministry of the Interior for developing, monitoring and evaluating in-service training. Some regulations on training have been issued by the
Civil Service Office in keeping with the law on civil service.
Currently several training institutions are focused on different ministries and service areas, each with a different legal status, although most are public institutions undergoing a transformation into a private non-profit status competing in the open market.
Click here for Training Strategy in the Civil Service (approved by the Government 16
July 2003).
Source: Civil Service Office - Public Service and the Administrative Framework (2003)
4.5 Gender
Gender balance in decision-making positions in national government and central administration in Slovakia (15 out 16 Ministries included in the survey):
11 One € is about 42 SKK.
12 These figures should be taken with caution given the way in which the Slovak statistics are presented.
13 See also: Public Service and the Administrative Framework (2002)
14 See also: Public Service and the Administrative Framework (2002)
11
National Government based on level:
National Government
Senior Ministers
Persons (%)
Women
Men
Junior Ministers
Persons (%)
Level
(%)
(%)
15 100 .. .. 68 66
Source: European Commission (Employment & Social Affairs) - Political Domain & Public and Juridical Domain
Central Administration based on functions:
Central Administration
Basic,
5 ministries (%)
Economic,
4 ministries (%)
Infrastructure,
2 ministries (%)
Socio-cultural,
4 ministries (%)
N-1 Level
N-2 Level
Women
Men
Women
Men
27 26 36 41
73 74 64 59
26 34 41 42
74 66 59 58
Source: European Commission (Employment & Social Affairs) - Public and Juridical Domain
15 One level below Minister
16 Two levels below Minister
12
5 .
.
E t h i i c s a n d C i i v i i l l S e r v i i c e
5.1 Corruption
2003 CPI Score relates to perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people and country analysts and ranges between 10 (highly clean) and 0
(highly corrupt).
Corruption Perceptions Index
2003 CPI
Score
Surveys
Used
Standard
Deviation
High-Low
Range
Number
Inst.
90 percent confidence range
Rank Country
59 Slovakia
9.7
3.7
8
11
0.3
0.7
9.2 - 10.0
2.9 – 4.7
4
7
9.5 - 9.9
3.4 – 4.0
1.3 8 0.7 0.3 - 2.2
Source: Transparency International -
6 0.9 - 1.7
Corruption Perceptions Index 2003
Surveys Used: Refers to the number of surveys that were used to assess a country's performance. 17 surveys were used and at least 3 surveys were required for a country to be included in the CPI.
Standard Deviation: Indicates differences in the values of the sources. Values below 0.5 indicate agreement, values between 0.5 and c. 0.9 indicate some agreement, while values equal or larger than 1 indicate disagreement.
High-Low Range: Provides the highest and lowest values of the sources.
Number Institutions: Refers to the number of independent institutions that assessed a country's performance. Since some institutions provided more than one survey.
90 percent confidence range: Provides a range of possible values of the CPI score. With 5 percent probability the score is above this range and with another 5 percent it is below.
There is a continuously high public and professional perception of widespread corruption in Slovakia, and tackling it should be a priority. The most affected areas appear to be the health care sector, education, the police and the judiciary.
Corporate crime is a specific problem in Slovakia and the business climate is still characterized to a certain degree by legal uncertainty. There is a need for strict enforcement of the existing rules. The public awareness of the need to fight corruption, including in the media is increasing.
The Government elaborated a National Programme for the Fight against Corruption in 1999, on the basis of which Action Plans were drawn up the following year. Its implementation is ongoing. According to the Government, three quarters of the 1
500 concrete actions have been carried out or addressed to a large extent.
The Laws on Conflict of Interests, on the Special Prosecution Office and on the
Specialised Court for Corruption are currently being discussed in Parliament and should, once adopted, represent an important instrument in improving the fight against corruption.
In December 2002, the Government decided to change the institutional framework of the fight against corruption. A new department for the fight against corruption was established within the Government Office, which is directly subordinated to the
Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice. This new department replaced the former Central Co-ordination Unit and the Steering Committee. It is in charge of implementing and co-ordinating the anti-corruption policy formulated by the
Government and is involved in the drafting of various relevant laws. Given the clear need for efficient co- ordination of the anti-corruption policy, the current staff within
13
the department should be reinforced. Furthermore, a special anti-corruption unit was established within the General Prosecution Office. However, a specific problem is the overlap still existing among law enforcement agencies involved in the fight against corruption and financial crimes.
The Civil Code, amended in June 2002, created the legal conditions for ratifying the
Council of Europe Civil Law Convention on Corruption, which was approved in March
2003 by the Slovak Parliament.
Source: European Commission - Comprehensive monitoring report on Slovakia's preparations for membership (11/2003)
Click here for GRECO Evaluation Report on the Slovak Republic
5.2 Ethics
The Civil Service Law provides for detailed regulation of ethical principles to which a civil servant must adhere. A Code of Ethics , drafted by the Civil Service Office, further define the standards of behaviour in social relations with the public, superior officers and other civil servants.
17 The Law itself addresses issues such as conflict of interest, political activities, behaviour outside the service (Article 53) and the declaration of assets (Article 54). Specific obligations are assigned to civil servants with positions of exceptional significance. These obligations, geared directly at fighting corruption and avoiding the impression of corruption, are primarily: meticulous record-keeping of meetings held with persons outside the administration; and, an enlarged disclosure of assets clause, including the assets of close relatives
(Article 55). The accountability of civil servants for their actions is regulated by the
Law, as is the basic disciplinary procedure (Article 60 ff.).
Source: Civil Service Office - Public Service and the Administrative Framework (2003)
17
SIGMA (OECD & EU) - Public Service and the Administrative Framework (2002)
14
6 .
.
e e-Government
G o v e r n m e n t t
6.1 e-Government Readiness
Readiness Index :
The index refers to the generic capacity or aptitude of the public sector to use ICT for encapsulating in public services and deploying to the public, high quality information
(explicit knowledge) and
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
e-Government Readiness Index
effective communication tools that support human development.
0.2
0.15
The index is comprised of three sub-indexes:
Web Measure Index,
Telecommunications
Infrastructure Index and
Human Capital Index.
0.1
0.05
0
S lov ak ia
B ul gar ia
C ze ch
R ep.
Hu nga ry
M ol dov a
P ol an d
R om an ia
Web Measure Index:
A scale based on progressively sophisticated web services present.
Coverage and sophistication of stateprovided e-service and e-product availability correspond to a numerical classification.
Web Measure Index
U kr ai ne
Source: United Nations – World Public Sector Report 2003
Telecom. Infrastructure Index Human Capital Index
Telecommunications
Infrastructure Index:
A composite, weighted average index of six primary indices, based on basic infrastructural indicators that define a country's ICT infrastructure capacity.
Primary indicators are:
PC’s, Internet users, online population and
Mobile phones.
Secondary indicators are TVs and telephone lines.
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
Sl ov ak ia
Bu lg ar ia
Cz ec h R ep
.
Hu ng ar y
M ol dov a
Po la nd
Ro ma nia
Uk ra in e
Source: United Nations – World Public Sector Report 2003
Human Capital Index:
A composite of the adult literacy rate and the combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross enrolment ratio, with two thirds of the weight given to adult literacy and one third to the gross enrolment ratio.
15
e-Participation
Index:
Refers to the willingness, on the part of the government, to use ICT to provide high quality information (explicit knowledge) and effective communication tools for the specific purpose of empowerring people for able participation in consultations and decision-making both in their capacity as consumers of public services and as citizens.
6.2 e-Participation
e-Participation Index
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
S lov ak ia
B ulg ar ia
C ze ch
R ep
.
H un ga ry
M old ov a
P ol an d
Ro m an ia
U kr ai ne
Source: United Nations – World Public Sector Report 2003 d e-information:
The government websites offer information on policies and programs, budgets, laws and regulations, and other briefs of key public interest.
Tools for disseminating of information exist for timely access and use of public information, including web forums, e-mail lists, newsgroups and chat rooms. e-decision making:
The government indicates that it will take citizens input into account in decision making and provides actual feedback on the outcome of specific issues. e-information e-decision making e-consultation
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Sl ov ak ia
Bu lg ar ia
Cz ec h
Rep
.
Hu nga ry
Mo ld ov a
Po la nd
Ro ma ni a
U kra ine
Source: United Nations – World Public Sector Report 2003 d e-consultation:
The government website explains e-consultation mechanisms and tools. It offers a choice of public policy topics online for discussion with real time and archived access to audios and videos of public meetings. The government encourages citizens to participate in discussions.
16
7 .
.
L i i n k s
7.1 National sites
Authority
President
National Council
Government
Ministries and Institutions
Civil Service Office
Office for Public Procurement
Constitutional Court
Public Protector of Rights
Statistical Office
7.2 Miscellaneous sites
Institution
Council of Europe (COE)
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD)
European Union (EU)
EU - Polish Links
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD)
Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) - legislation
SIGMA (EU & OECD)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
World Bank (WB)
Topic http://www.prezident.sk/ http://www.nrsr.sk/ http://www.government.gov.sk/ http://slovakia.eunet.sk/index.asp
http://www.upss.sk
http://www.uvo.gov.sk/ http://www.concourt.sk/ http://www.vop.gov.sk/ http://www.statistics.sk/
Topic http://www.coe.int
http://www.ebrd.com/country/country/slovakia/index.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/slovakia/index.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/slovakia/...
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex_browse.home
http://www.oecd.org/infobycountry/...
http://www.legislationline.org
http://www.sigmaweb.org/countries/svkoverview.htm
http://www.undp.sk/ http://www.worldbank.org/sk
17
