Estonia and Slovakia

14.12.2011

Slovakia (at the time a part of Czechoslovakia) recognised the Republic of Estonia on 29 December 1921 and re-recognised Estonia on 29 August 1991.

The sovereign, democratic Republic of Slovakia was established on 1 January 1993 after the dissolution of the federal state of Czechoslovakia. Estonia recognised the Republic of Slovakia on 15 January 1993 and diplomatic relations were established on 30 March 1993.

The first ambassador of the restored Republic of Estonia to Slovakia was Toivo Tasa, who presented his credentials in Bratislava in June 1995. Mart Laanemäe was the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to the Slovak Republic beginning in May 1999, residing in Vienna. As of October 2003, the Estonian ambassador to Slovakia was Katrin Saarsalu-Layachi. The current Estonian Ambassador to Slovakia, Eve-Külli Kala, presented her credential to Slovak President Gashparovic on 2 February 2010.

The first Slovakian ambassador to Estonia Emil Kuchar, who resided in Helsinki, presented his credentials in October 1999. Beginning in November of 2000, Jozef Dravecký was accredited as the ambassador, and from October 2005 to May 2009 Ivan Špilda held the position. The current Slovakian ambassador Dušan Krištofik, who resides in Riga, presented his credentials to President Ilves on 18 June 2009.

In 2006, Slovakia opened an Honorary Consulate in Tallinn. Even Tudeberg has been Honorary Consul since December 2006. Estonia’s first honorary consulate in Bratislava, Slovakia was opened by Foreign Minister Urmas Paet together with Slovakian Foreign Minister Mikulas Dzurinda on 30 November 2011. The Estonian honorary consul in Slovakia is Peter Pochaba, a well-known and well-connected entrepreneur in Slovakia.

Visits

Bilateral relations

Towards the end of the 1990’s, Estonia and Slovakia’s common foreign policy goals—to join the EU and NATO—provided a solid base for them to build up their relations. Co-operation between the nations at that time primarily dealt with the specific goal of joining those two international organizations. After the nations’ accession to the EU and NATO, the central point of their relations has shifted to co-operation done in those organisations, as well as in other international organisations. In 2009 and 2010 relations also intensified thanks to productive co-operation in connection with Estonia’s euro zone accession.

In the current Riigikogu, there are 11 people in the Estonia-Slovakia parliamentary group led by Rainer Vakra. In the Slovakian Parliament Národná Radas, a 26-member friendship group of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, was formed. It is led by Marek Vargovcak.

Agreements

• Agreement on the Abolishment of Visa Requirements (came into force 01.12.1994);
• Agreement on Co-operation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Issues (came into force 22.09.2000);
• Agreement on International Road Transport of Passengers and Goods (came into force 18.07.2001);
• Framework Agreement for Defence Co-operation (between the Ministries for Defence), 2001;
• Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation (came into force 29.03.2006);
• Agreement on Mutual Protection of Classified Information (came into force 01.01.2005).

Economic relations

TRADE

Goods exchange between Estonia and Slovakia has been fairly conservative until now. In 2006 Slovakia ranked as Estonia’s 36th trade partner, in 2007 it was 33rd, in 2008 it was 31st and in 2009 35th. Although total trade volume in 2008 remained essentially the same compared with 2007, in 2009 trade with Slovakia decreased by 1.8 times (export by 1.77 times and import by 1.83 times).

In 2009 the total trade value was 27.2 million euros, which made up 0.2% of Estonia’s total foreign trade profit. Estonia exported 10.9 million euros’ worth of goods to Slovakia and imported 16.2 million euros’ worth of goods. The trade balance was a negative 5.3 million euros.

Economic relations and trade between Slovakia and Estonia remained modest in 2010, although Estonian exports did show signs of increase. In the first half of 2010, the total of Estonian direct investments in Slovakia was 3.2 times more than Slovakian investments in Estonia. In 2010 13.9 million euros’ worth of goods were exported to Slovakia and imports valued 18 million euros.

Major export articles in 2010:

• Machinery and equipment - 26.9%
• Wood and wood products – 24.8%
• Metals and metal products - 19.5%
• Paper and paper products – 13.6%

Major import articles in 2010:

• Transport vehicles - 46%
• Metals and metal products – 16.9%
• Beverages and foodstuffs – 8.8%
• Machinery and equipment - 7.2%

All economic figures originate from the Statistical Office of Estonia

INVESTMENTS

According to Bank of Estonia data, as of 31 December 2010 Slovakian direct investments in Estonia totalled 4 million euros (mainly in the professional, research and technical sector; wholesale and retail trade; financial and insurance activity; and real estate) and Estonian direct investments in Slovakia totalled 11.5 million euros (mostly in financial and insurance activity; real estate; and the professional, research and technical sector).

As of 1 April 2010 there were 7 enterprises functioning with Slovakian capital in Estonia.

TOURISM

Tourism between Estonia and Slovakia began to develop more rapidly after both countries joined the EU, but the potential for development has certainly not been depleted. Between 2005 and 2009, about 1 000 Slovakian tourists a year were housed in Estonian accommodation establishments (most of them in Tallinn).

Among Estonian tourists the High Tatras ski resorts are becoming more popular. Between the years 2005-2007, over 4 000 tourists from Estonia travelled to Slovakia each year with the help of travel agencies. In 2008 the number of people decreased by about half and in 2009 it decreased by half again, which was evidently caused by the global economic downturn as well as people travelling without the help of travel agencies.

Cultural Relations

Slovakian literature has been introduced to the Estonian public by the translations of Leo Metsar and Aleksander Raid from the seventies. Leo Metsar has translated the works of the famous Slovakian writer Vojtech Zamarovský.

In December 2001, the European Film Days took place in East Slovakia, where "The Highway Crossing" by Arko Okk represented Estonian cinematography.

In October-November 2006, the National Gallery in Bratislava displayed an exhibit by the Union of Estonian Architects entitled “Estonian Home 2002-2006” in the marble hall Café Muzejka. The exhibit was organized with the help of the Estonian Embassy in Vienna. Pärtel Tall’s animated film “Porgand” (“Carrot”) won the UNICEF award in 2006 at the 8th Biennial of Animation Bratislava (BAB 2006).

In May of 2007, an exhibit on the history of Slovakia was displayed in Tallinn and Tartu. The exhibit was organised by Slovakia’s honorary consul in Tallinn with the initiative of Even Tudeberg.

On 10 January 2008 Slovakian Ambassador Ivan Špilda opened a display exhibit about Slovakia in the 16th-19th centuries at the Võrumaa Museum. On 15 April the ETV Girls’ Choir gave a concert in Bratislava, an event organised by the embassy in Vienna as part of the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. The youth mixed choir Vox Populi earned a silver prize from the international choir competition Slovakia Cantat held in Bratislava from 24-26 April. Two Estonian photo exhibitions were seen in the Filakovo castle in Slovakia from 17 May to 29 June: Peeter Sirge’s “Spherical Rooms” and Henri van Noordenburg’s exhibit describing Estonian homes “Stories from Home”. On 25 September the exhibit “Woven Stories, Carpets from Estonia” opened in Bratislava.

From 18-22 October 2008 an international children’s theatre festival took place at the Endla Theatre in Pärnu—the NB Festival. Improvisational children’s theatre was represented at the festival by the Slovakian troupe Divadlo v Podpalubi, whose performance was created on the spot based on suggestions from the audience.

Multi-faceted cultural relations between the two countries continued in 2009. One notable event that took place was NO99 Theatre’s participation in the Divadelná Nitra theatre festival in Nitra in September with the performance “How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Rabbit”. Estonian filmmakers are frequent and awaited guests at Slovakian film festivals – in 2009 the film “Autumn Ball” received recognition, with its director Veiko Õunpuu being named Best Director in Bratislava.