The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (Slovak: Ministerstvo zahraničných vecí a európskych záležitostí) is responsible for maintaining the Slovak Republic's external relations and the management of its international diplomatic missions.
| Ministerstvo zahraničných vecí a európskych záležitostí Slovenskej republiky | |
 | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1990 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Slovakia |
| Headquarters | Bratislava |
| Employees | 1237 |
| Annual budget | €137 million (2019) |
| Minister responsible | |
| Website | mzv |
The current ministry's director is Miroslav Wlachovský.[1]
History
editAfter the peaceful dissolution of the former Czechoslovakia in 1993, Slovakia became an independent nation and has maintained official diplomatic relations with other nations since then.[2] Between 2009-2010 and 2012-2020, Miroslav Lajčák has been the foreign minister.[3][2]
Diplomacy
editThe ministry oversees Slovakia's affairs with foreign entities, including bilateral relations with individual nations and its representation in international organizations, including the European Union, the United Nations, NATO and the OECD. The ministry also holds responsibility for matters related to international trade, the rights of its expatriates, monitoring human rights and crisis situations abroad, and the spread of information about Slovakia internationally.[4] The ministry is also involved in the affairs of the Visegrád Group (V4), a grouping of Central European states—Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland—established for the purpose of furthering the four nations' European integration.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Minister-Curriculum Vitae". mzv.sk. Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ^ a b "Background Note: Slovakia". State.gov. The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ "Minister-Curriculum Vitae". mzv.sk. Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ "Ministry-Characteristics of the Activities". mzv.sk. Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ "The Visegrad Group - V4". mzv.sk. Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. Retrieved 18 May 2012.