Annual Report Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic 2008

Slovaks in EU Institutions
The Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland,
David Miliband, and
guests at the debate
with students of the
Faculty of International
Relations of the University
of Economics on the
Challenges for Foreign
Policy in Europe, Bratislava,
October 2008
ing of the personnel representation of Slovaks in
EU institutions. The Government Office and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic,
in cooperation with the Permanent Representation
of the Slovak Republic to the EU in Brussels,
mutually coordinate the links between the individual
national bodies within the EU institutions
while implementing the steps required to ensure
a higher quality of training for Slovak citizens for
In 2008, Slovakia continued in the positive
trend of increasing its citizens’ representation
within EU institutions. Thus in 2008, besides
many other things, Slovakia increased its direct
influence on the activities of EU institutions by
ensuring higher awareness, closer work ties, and
subsequent opportunities to use these contacts
at home. The national interests of the Slovak Republic
can therefore continue to be directly communicated
within the specific institutions of European
structures.
Several actors within the state administration
play an important role in the strengthenwork
in European institutions, as well as informing
the applicants about job opportunities.
Slovaks in Brussels
In 2008, the increase in the representation of
Slovak citizens in EU institutions showed that
this successful trend that has developed over the
past few years continues. The overall number of
Slovak citizens working in EU institutions in various
positions continues to grow unabated. At the
end of 2008, 306 Slovaks were working in the European
Commission in permanent or temporary
positions. Slovakia has thus been successfully
fulfilling the quota set by the European Commission,
i.e. 279 permanent positions, which it
should reach by 2010. After 2010, the preferential
quota system for new Member States will be
abolished.
From Slovakia’s perspective, the level of the
position held is regarded as a more significant
indicator of success than the overall number of
positions occupied in the EU structures. It is clear
that administrative staff and their assistants visibly
improve the image of their home country.
The representation of Slovaks in the highest positions
in Directorate Generals, however, is not yet
as high as that found at lower levels. Therefore,
Slovakia will continue to focus its efforts in this
field for the foreseeable future.
Our long-term interest in achieving higher
representation of our citizens in EU institutions
is being hampered by the insufficient interest of
suitable candidates in gaining middle and higher
ranking management positions in the EC and
other EU institution.
Slovak citizens are undoubtedly able to compete
against candidates from other countries,
but they have doubts about applying for publicly
announced tenders, and sometimes apply for
positions which do not reflect their actual expertise
and work experience. However, this paradox
will easily be resolved when candidates are able
to realistically evaluate their own strengths and
weaknesses.
Overall Representation of Slovak Citizens in the EC
of that
Year Total Number
Women % Men %
2004 64 45 70.31 19 29.69
2005 128 89 69.53 39 30.47
2006 177 124 70.06 53 29.94
2007 264 174 65.91 90 34.09
2008 306 202 66.01 104 33.99
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