MITIGATION OF IMPACTS OF THE CRISIS ON SLOVAKIA – A PRIORITY OF THE SLOVAK FOREIGN SERVICE
MITIGATION OF IMPACTS OF THE CRISIS ON SLOVAKIA – A PRIORITY OF THE SLOVAK FOREIGN SERVICE

Summary/Abstract: A historically new situation testing economic theories, political, economic and financial models as well as the international institutions is coming into existence due to the financial and economic crisis. It is therefore logical that in general the Slovak government continues to shift its attention in the field of implementation of foreign policy towards the current issues of economic diplomacy. Nowadays the role of state foreign policy does not only consist in creation of the favorable i.e. first and foremost safe external environment needed to achieve the national interests of state. An increase in the importance and in many cases even dominance of economic issues in the area of international relations is now actually present. In 2009, too, the basic framework of the Foreign Ministry’s activities, besides the external factors determined in the first place by the crisis, was also based upon the general characteristics and given facts of Slovakia’s economic environment. In 2009 the struggle to mitigate the impacts of the crisis on Slovakia became a priority activity of the Foreign Ministry. Internal, organizational and conceptual modifications were all introduced to address the objective mentioned. The changes helped us concentrate upon several major areas of our activities, namely: • activities within the European Union; • increase in the cooperation and coordination of all players active in the area of external economic relations; • support for pro-investment and pro-export promotional activities abroad; • the search for best experience and practice of other nations; • intensified operation and activities within international organizations aimed at achieving greater increase in economic value thanks to the advantages of our membership; • proactive dialogue with businesses; and • creation of Slovakia’s modern image abroad. Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has only limited powers (representation of Slovakia’s interests abroad or representation in international organizations) to engage in processes going on in the field of economics, our activities in the field of economic diplomacy in 2009 undoubtedly contributed to the elimination of negative impacts of the crisis. Unlike the other partners we have no direct instruments at our disposal (such as state assistance, operational programs, taxes, levies, incentives, contributions etc.) which could be employed to support the activities of businesses and the instruments of development assistance can only be exploited indirectly.

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