Status: Ratified 28 November 2019
Slovakia has a unicameral system, requiring the National Council to ratify CETA. CETA was ratified in September 2019, and formal notification of ratification was given in November 2019. The ratification process was steered by a coalition government led by the Social Democrats, SNS, and Most-Hid.
Public debate
Contestation on CETA’s ratification was limited in Slovakia, with limited opposition from opposing political parties. CSOs opposed to CETA included trade unions and environmental groups. They argued that CETA lacked transparency and that the investor-state dispute settlement provisions would erode environmental protections, labour rights and the enforceability of sustainable development goals. According to opposing CSOs, this would result from a “regulatory chill” effect of the investor-state dispute settlement provisions.
Trade data
Slovakia had a trade surplus in goods trade with Canada of €158 million in 2021 (Eurostat). Imports from Canada were €105 million, 0.5% of Slovakia’s imports from outside the EU. Exports were €263 million, 1.5% of Slovakia’s extra-EU exports (Eurostat). Canada-Slovakia bilateral goods trade (imports + exports) grew by €147 million, or 34.5%, between 2016 and 2019 (Statistics Canada).
Sources
Corporate Europe Observatory. (November 2016). European and Canadian civil society groups call for rejection of CETA. Link
Eschbach, A. The Ratification Process in EU Member States – A presentation with particular consideration of the TTIP and CETA free trade agreements. Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law. Link
Kanadsky Slovak. “Ambassador Koziak: My aim is to support Slovak community.” Link.
Radio Slovakia International. (September 2019). “Slovakia ratifies EU-Canada trade agreement. Link.
Tomes, P. “CETA: new opportunities for Slovak and Canadian businesses.” AmCham Slovakia. Link.
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