On 1st May 2024 we will commemorate the 20th anniversary of entry of Slovakia to the European Union, which was the end of a difficult journey we embarked upon in 1995. Enlargement, in principle, was approved by the European Commission in 1997, but unfortunately the Slovak Republic was not invited to join the intensive talks about future membership of the European Union as it neither met the political criteria nor had sufficient respect for human rights or the principles of democracy.
However, the parliamentary elections of 1998 brought about a change in Slovakia that was perceived by the European Union as a positive step towards the integration. At the Helsinki summit of 1999, the Slovak Republic was invited to attend the accession negotiations. The accession process was very demanding and also required Slovakia to meet pre-accession criteria. In the referendum 92.46 % of the citizens of Slovakia voted yes to a future inside the European Union. Through accession Slovakia joined a partnership of like-minded countries that share such values as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, human rights and solidarity.
Entry to the Schengen Area resulted in the elimination of border controls and simplified the free movement of people and goods. European Union membership also helped Slovakia to gain visa-free access to the majority of countries, including the USA and Canada. Free movement within Europe has also brought the possibility to study in other European Union countries. One of the most popular programs ever run by the European Union is the Erasmus+ study programme. This has allowed more than 40,000 Slovak university students, to study in other European Union states. The Euro, the common European currency is used by Slovakia and the other 19 countries of the Eurozone.
We are a net recipient of funds, we receive more money from the European Funds then we contribute. Up to 2023 Slovakia had received more than 30 billion Euro from European development funds. They have been used to construct and reconstruct schools, hospitals and historical monuments, to develop scientific parks, to modernise the railways and many other projects that improve our quality of life.
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