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Home , Address, Bratislava 1, Bratislava Region, Grassalkovich Palace, Little Carpathians, Little Danube

ELA IN . A GOOD IDEA. 7

SLOVAKIA: A BALANCED CHOICE 11

BRATISLAVA: READY TO HOST ELA 15

SLOVAKIA: A JUNCTION IN CENTRAL 31

SLOVAKIA: A RICH TRADITION IN MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION 49

BRATISLAVA: A WELCOMING EUROPEAN CAPITAL 57

SLOVAKIA AT GLANCE 77 The Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak

JÁN RICHTER

For more than fifty years, the European project As a country integrated in the has linked freedom and prosperity with a high through membership in the and the standard of social rights. However, today this , the Slovak Republic, with its exceptional success of the Union is endangered strategic location in , undoubtedly by social dumping, illegal work, and breaches of has all the prerequisites to facilitate cooperation existing legislative rules. between the Member States regarding politically polarizing topics. While there are already relevant institutions able to many of the problems affecting the The Slovak Republic takes into account the diverse everyday life of Europeans, the key issue of free positions in the of labour mobility. Our movement of workers is still waiting for a proper country‘s ability to connect Member States has institutional anchoring. I am convinced that the been clearly demonstrated in the discussion on ability to offer a direct, fair and above all common the Posted Workers Directive. Slovakia is not only solution to these challenges will be decisive for a “posting” country, but also a country where Europe’s future. For this reason, I welcome the thousands of posted workers find jobs. establishment of the European Labour Authority and, on behalf of the Slovak Republic, would like Thus, the location of the European Labour to offer this emerging institution the operational Authority in the Slovak Republic can make a background for its further work. significant contribution to strengthening cohesion between the Member States in the Union.

2 www.sk4ela.sk The Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic

PETER PELLEGRINI

Since its beginnings, the European Union has undoubtedly also relates to Slovakia‘s ambition placed emphasis on developing the single market to become a member of the Union with all the with its four fundamental freedoms. Labour experience and attributes that belong to it, and mobility has been proven to be one of the we are equally ready to accelerate work on the important factors affecting the functioning of the project of deeper integration of the eurozone European Union. countries. The Slovak Republic is, however, the only eurozone and Schengen Area country without We know today that well-managed and properly a European agency or institution. regulated labour mobility supports the growth of the economy and employment across the I would like to emphasize that the Slovak Republic European Union. It is more than likely that in the gives priority to the topic of labour mobility, coming years the further growth of the economy with an interest in achieving an expert profile and employment in the EU will be driven by the on this topic, as evidenced by the fact that the fair functioning of the free movement of workers, Government of the Slovak Republic has recently which should be the subject of the new adopted a comprehensive strategy for labour authority‘s activity. mobility.

With respect to the increasing labour mobility I strongly believe that the decision to place in the European Union, I am convinced of the the European Labour Authority in the Slovak benefits and the need to create the European Republic will be a confirmation that Slovakia is a Labour Authority. responsible and constructive partner for the Union in all activities aimed at mutual cooperation. The Slovak Republic is a fully qualified candidate meeting all the prerequisites to host the European Labour Authority in its capital. Our interest

www.sk4ela.sk 3 4 www.sk4ela.sk Dialogue is our working method, respect for partners our hallmark.

ELA in Slovakia. A good idea.

Slovakia welcomes the ELA as an institution that will to prevent cases of illegal employment. The ambition address the priorities set in the European Pillar of to host ELA is a logical step in enhancing and Social Rights. We are, however, convinced that ELA’s sharing these competences. added value stretches beyond assisting thousands of mobile workers and enterprises. It represents Bratislava might not be the home of the ’s most the commitment and the will of the Member States famous art galleries, a place to savour fresh tapas, a to safeguard two of the four fundamental pillars of to experience the world’s oldest tube or to watch the EU, the freedom of movement of persons and sunset over the coastline. And yet, one would be services, and their enforcement under just conditions. hard-pressed to find a cosier cosmopolitan capital in Europe to live and to work in. This is not a simple task. Yet, we are confident to assert that if one were to look for a country that is in Due to its comparably small size, Bratislava combines the geographical and political position to endorse and the advantages of living in a capital city with a friendly support ELA’s role in facilitating European dialogue, atmosphere. Bratislava is a city of unlikely synergies, one would hardly find a better match than Slovakia. where history meets state-of-the-art urban design, all The country is among the most pro-European of which is set in ancient vineyards and green forests. Member States and has repeatedly shown a nuanced Bratislavans are known for their dynamic and sporty appreciation of the historically and socially diverse way of life, a taste for contemporary, hearty Central positions of the EU Member States. European and exquisite local wines.

We are offering experience and constructive Bratislava, with its Central European flair, capacity approach when it comes to addressing pressing for dialogue and appreciation of diversity is looking issues of the day, including the abuse of labour forward to welcoming ELA. mobility rules. In 2017, Slovakia initiated and hosted a regional forum of the V4 countries and their extended Be our guest and join us in exploring what we have to neighbourhood to strengthen their cooperation and offer. www.sk4ela.sk 5 6 www.sk4ela.sk ELA IN SLOVAKIA. A GOOD IDEA.

www.sk4ela.sk 7 ELA IN SLOVAKIA A GOOD IDEA

A NETWORK OF EXPERT INSTITUTIONS

Central European Institute of Labour Employment Labour Studies Institute and Family Research Institute

A SOLID TRACK RECORD OF SOCIAL CONVERGENCE IN SLOVAKIA:

520 €

480 €

GROSS MINIMUM WAGE 435 € DEVELOPMENT 405 €

380 € 352 € 338 € 327 €

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

8 www.sk4ela.sk MAKING THE EUROPEAN PILLAR OF SOCIAL RIGHTS REAL

Slovakia aims to be at the regional forefront of the social rights agenda. We offer: CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH when it comes to addressing burning issues of the day, including the abuse of labour mobility rules. In 2017, Slovakia initiated and hosted a regional forum of the V4 countries and their extended neighbourhood to strengthen their cooperation and to prevent cases ELA IN SLOVAKIA. A GOOD IDEA. of illegal employment. The ambition to host ELA is a logical next step in enhancing and sharing this competence.

CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS going beyond the standard instruments. Slovakia recently launched a self-standing national labour mobility strategy with the aim of safeguarding decent working conditions for workers and hindering instances of social dumping. CONCENTRATED WORK on our goals. At the beginning of 2018, Slovakia reached a 75% employment rate among its 20-64 - year-olds, two years ahead of the deadline set by the Europe 2020 strategy. COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL DIALOGUE We value the opinions and the experience of our social partners. Making work pay is a call we subscribe to, and we believe it to be the best way for social convergence in Europe. CONNECTING SOCIAL RIGHTS WITH TRADITION Building on Slovakia‘s distinct tradition as the continent‘s first country to introduce co-operatives in 1845, the Government has recently re-worked and adopted a new act on social economy. By doing so, Slovakia offers innovative ideas to work towards more social and regional convergence in Europe.

www.sk4ela.sk 9 10 www.sk4ela.sk SLOVAKIA: A BALANCED CHOICE

www.sk4ela.sk 11 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF EU AGENCIES AND OTHER BODIES

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1 1

1 1 1

1 2 2 1

2 13 1 SLOVAKIA 2

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Slovakia is the only EU Member State from the 2004 enlargement that is both a Schengen Area member and a eurozone member, which does not host any EU institution or agency.

12 www.sk4ela.sk EUROPEAN UNION

1 MEMBER OF THE EU FOR 15 YEARS 1 1

1 1 1

1 2 2 1

2 13 1 SLOVAKIA 2 SCHENGEN AREA geographical balance

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FREE MOVEMENT SLOVAKIA: A BALANCED CHOICE 2 0 OF PEOPLE AND GOODS SINCE 2007 5 2 2

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EUROZONE

EURO AS OFFICIAL CURRENCY SINCE 2009

www.sk4ela.sk 13 14 www.sk4ela.sk BRATISLAVA: READY TO HOST ELA

www.sk4ela.sk 15 Slovakia has identified several suitable alternatives for ELA’s new seat in the central business of Bratislava. The final decision fell on the office buildingLandererova 12 (L12), which is, among other reasons, being proposed for its convenient location. L12 is part of a wider business, residential, shopping and leisure centre at the riverfront, called the Eurovea City.

L12 was finished in 2018 when it welcomed its first tenants. With its riverfront , 5- Sheraton Hotel, a large shopping mall and ample options to dine, life at Eurovea City never stops.

Eurovea City is a prime location for working, living and recreation. The development at Danube’s promenade offers modern residential, office and properties with high quality amenities. At the same time, it provides venue for open- air concerts, public assemblies, sporting competitions and festivals ranging from to jazz. The new building of the is also an organic part of the complex.

Eurovea City‘s central location provides easy and quick accessibility by public and private transportation. Numerous direct bus lines connect it with all other parts of the city. Bratislava Old , the main bus station and the city‘s extensive tram network is within walking distance. The area is well equipped with parking spaces and is also accessible by boat via a dedicated pier on the Danube.

The proposed office location for the new ELA headquarters was carefully selected to enable smooth start of its operations from 2019. L12 meets the ELA’s specific requirements including the highest standards of accessibility, connectivity and security.

The proposed office building is just across the from the main bus station with direct connections to Bratislava and airports and easy access to the main railway station. The closest highway exit allowing for easy access to other EU capitals (, , Vienna, etc.) is just across the bridge, right next to L12.

16 www.sk4ela.sk of theEuropeanUnionwaspubliclycelebratedin2016. It issymbolicthatELAshouldresideintheareawhereSlovakia’sfirsteverPresidencyofCouncil develop andexpandinthecomingyears. and thecentralsquare.Thishigh-profileareaispopularamongSlovaksvisitorsalikewillcontinueto Special attentionhasbeenpaidtothedesignofpublicspacesatEuroveaCity,suchasriverfrontpark www.sk4ela.sk terrace isavailabletoalltenantsand In additiontoits500sqmcanteen socializing andworkbreaks, increasing accommodation capacityforvisitors the building‘sattractiveness forpotential centre‘s hustle.Itisagood placefor facilities atthisnearbyhotelare provides ahideawayfromthecity and 80sqmcafé,theL12‘sroof 200 guestrooms,alongwithother to ELA.Additionalconference nearby hotelsprovidesufficient Adjacent HotelSheraton,withover also available. employees. mixed-used areameansthatawide array ofamenitiesandfacilitiesare centres, postoffice,kindergardens, L12 strictest contemporaryworkplace requirements. L12’slocationina schools, healthcarefacilities,etc. restaurants, cafés,shops,fitness located initsimmediatevicinity: is anewly-builtmodernoffice centre designedtomeetthe

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BRATISLAVA: READY TO HOST ELA availability of the office premises 18 www.sk4ela.sk www.sk4ela.sk 19 L12 was successfully granted the Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certificate (LEED Gold) for green buildings. It demonstrates that the L12 building was designed in line with principles of environmental quality, energy efficiency and sustainability. Enhancing the comfort of individual employees and opportunities for community building were factors also taken into account. L12 meets the highest standards on the market.

The first four floors provide parking for cars and motorcycles, including electric vehicle charging stations. Facilities for bicycle commuters, such as bicycle storage, changing room and showers, are also available. The building has excellent connections to nearby paths as well as the Danube cycle route leading through , Slovakia and .

The location of the proposed office was carefully selected to meet the criteria of good accessibility for visitors, a comfortable connection to the and exceptional services in the neighbourhood.

20 www.sk4ela.sk DESTINATION DISTANCES

The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic 6 min by car, 18 min by walk

Government Office of the Slovak Republic 6 min by car, 28 min by walk

Hotel Sheraton 1 min by walk

Bratislava Airport 15 min by car

Svätoplukova Karaždicova Central Bus Station 1 min by walk

Košická Main Railway Station 9 min by car, 25 min by walk

Old Town City Centre 10 min by walk

Košická

Vienna Airport Karaždicova 40 min by car

Svätoplukova Prague 3 hours 20 min by car

Budapest 2 hours by car

Košická

Prievozská

Karaždicova Prievozská

Svätoplukova

Prievozská Government Office of the Slovak Republic Košická

Svätoplukova Karaždicova Prievozská

Košická

Prievozská

Košická

Karaždicova Karaždicova

Svätoplukova

Košická Prievozská

Mlynské Prievozská

Karaždicova Prievozská Košická

Svätoplukova

Prievozská The Ministry of Labour, Košická Prievozská Prievozská Social Affairs and Family Prievozská

Karaždicova

Prievozská Mlynské nivy Mlynské nivy Košická Twin City Prievozská Prievozská Mlynské nivy Prievozská

Karaždicova

Košická Čulenova

Košická

Karaždicova

Landererova Košická

Dostojevského Landererova Prístavná Prístavná Landererova 12 availability of the office premises Čulenova Prístavná Prístavná

Pribinova Prístavná

Pribinova Pribinova Pribinova Pribinova Košická Košická Vajanského nábrežie Pribinova Pribinova Čulenova BRATISLAVA: READY TO HOST ELA

Vajanského nábrežie

Eurovea Phase II

Danube River Danube River Košická Danube River Danube River Danube River

SNP Bridge SNP Danube River

Old Bridge

Danube River

Apollo Bridge Danube River

Danube River

Košická LandererovaDanube River

Dostojevského rad Landererova Prístavná Prístavná Čulenova Prístavná Prístavná Landererova 12

Pribinova Prístavná

Pribinova Pribinova Pribinova Pribinova Košická Vajanského nábrežie Pribinova Pribinova

Vajanského nábrežie Hotel Sheraton

Eurovea Phase II

Danube River Danube River Danube River Danube River Danube River

SNP Bridge SNP Danube River

Old Bridge

Danube River www.sk4ela.sk 21

Apollo Bridge Danube River

Danube River

Danube River 22 www.sk4ela.sk www.sk4ela.sk 23 L12 building will be tailored to the specific needs of ELA. Slovakia will provide a complete turn-key finish fit-out of the premises including the requested meeting rooms. The offered office premises will be completed and delivered in the requested time, taking into account the estimated amount and its expected growth in the upcoming years. L12 meets all technical requirements as well as physical and IT security standards including the telecommunication and data storage networks. The building is connected to the public data network via dual independent optical cable connections to the main server rooms, which are then connected to specific floors and tenants‘ server rooms with optical single-mode connection.

EFFECTIVE BUILDING SECURITY

● 24/7 security guard in the building, 24hour- ● Entry point to the outside parking lot and security guard station located at the entry point entry point to the indoor garage controlled by to the garage. access cards& monitoring system of vehicle registration plate numbers. ● The receptionist sitting at the front desk during working hours and the security officer during ● Access of the employees to the building non-working hours located at the main entrance controlled by turnstile entry, access in both to the building. directions is allowed only with employee access cards. ● IP camera system installed in the building. Camera system monitors: building facades, entry ● Access of visitors to the building is allowed only points to the indoor garage, outside parking after the identity verification at the front desk lot, lobby, front desk, area in front of the lifts, and issue of access card allowing access only to security guard station. Security camera footage the particular tenant’s floor.Visitors’ personal is recorded in compliance with the GDPR. data are saved in compliance with the GDPR requirements.

24 www.sk4ela.sk Delivery timeline of the proposed office premises:

PHASE I PHASE II PHASE III up to 23 workers up to 65 workers up to 144 workers 600 - 1 200 m2 1 300 - 1 900 m2 2 800 - 4 200 m2

JUNE JULY SEPTEMBER OCTOBER AUGUST Enlargement 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2020 request

+ 10 months + 15 months ELA starts using all ELA: Fit out Fit out works Furnishing the office specification from the office space specification

4 months from the decision Decision ELA starts for ELA’s using the location offices availability of the office premises BRATISLAVA: READY TO HOST ELA

www.sk4ela.sk 25 26 www.sk4ela.sk www.sk4ela.sk 27 ALTERNATIVES FOR GETTING TO WORK

The fact that Bratislava with its size ranks among the smaller capitals brings some benefits, like an easily understandable public transport system.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

TRAMS Trams are the most popular and fastest form of public transport in the city. They are reliable, run on time and generally operate from 5:00 am to 11:30 pm. BUSES Buses play a substantial role in the public transport system. Limited-stop services run on the longer routes through the city. Night buses operate in Bratislava after midnight. TROLLEY-BUSES Some routes in the city centre, mainly in its hilly parts are electrified and serviced by trolley-buses. They have a long tradition in Bratislava and have been operating here for more than 100 years.

BIKE-SHARING

A city-wide bike-sharing project brings up to 550 yellow bikes to the of the capital, utilizing 73 stations in 4 city : Staré mesto, Nové mesto, Ružinov and Petržalka. The number of users has been continuously You can buy a public rising since 2018 and bike-sharing has become a transportation ticket in popular alternative for daily commuting to work. Bratislava, utilize it to travel to Vienna and use it in Vienna for public transport, as well.

28 www.sk4ela.sk

From to October you can travel between Vienna and Bratislava by boat. The Twin City Liner, as it is called, is popular among passengers not only due to the short duration of the trip, but also because you can admire the beauty of the Danube and its surroundings while traveling. By Twin City Liner you can get easily directly to the city centre of Vienna and Bratislava.

Twin City Liner time schedule:

Bratislava – Vienna (1:30 hour) / Vienna – Bratislava (1:15 hour) operates in two main :

29. 03. – 11. 04. | 30. 09. – 27. 10. 3 times per day including weekdays, weekends and bank holidays

01. 11. – 06. 01. | 01. 02. – 29. 03. once per day during weekends and bank holidays availability of the office premises BRATISLAVA: READY TO HOST ELA

ELECTROMOBILITY

The charging station infrastructure in Bratislava is well-developed and has been growing constantly. You can find public chargers mostly in shopping centres, business centres and at petrol stations. At present, there are 47 public charging stations in Bratislava. However, the number is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

www.sk4ela.sk 29 30 www.sk4ela.sk SLOVAKIA: A JUNCTION IN CENTRAL EUROPE

www.sk4ela.sk 31 BRATISLAVA - STRATEGIC LOCATION IN THE HEART OF EUROPE

Due to its strategic geographic location in central . Bratislava and Vienna are actually among the Europe, Bratislava is easily accessible from all closest capital cities in the world (the closest among European countries. The Slovak capital can be reached EU Member States). With a mere 64 km between them, from 3 EU Member States within one hour as it is they form part of the Vienna-Bratislava metropolitan located at the Austrian , about 12 km from . Hungarian borders and 60 km from the borders of the . A location within the heart of Europe for the new ELA headquarters would be ideal for the efficient and Bratislava is close to three EU capital cities – Vienna, flexible operation, making it easier for ELA staff to visit Budapest and Prague. The Slovak capital is directly their home countries. connected with these cities via a high-quality road and rail infrastructure. The excellent location of the Slovak capital is also demonstrated by the fact that numerous international The neighbouring capitals can easily be reached by car. companies have located their regional offices and Vienna and Budapest in 1 and 2 hours respectively, service centres here. Prague in 3h 20m. In case of Vienna, the short travel time enables daily commuting between these two

BRATISLAVA

The capital of Slovakia combines the convenience and comfort of living in a mid-sized city (approx. 450 000 permanent city residents and more than 620 000 in the greater metropolitan area) with economic, social and cultural possibilities of a large European agglomeration (more than 12 million inhabitants live within two hours’ drive from Bratislava)

32 www.sk4ela.sk

Population: 625 175 Population growth: +12.9% GDP per capita: 188% (as % of EU average)

Source: accessibilty of the location SLOVAKIA: A JUNCTION IN CENTRAL EUROPE

www.sk4ela.sk 33 EXCELLENT HIGHWAY CONNECTIVITY

Bratislava is a significant international highway node with direct access to capitals of the EU Member States and other key cities. The three major European corridors (Baltic-Adriatic, Orient/East-Med and Rhine-Danube) pass through Bratislava.

This would allow ELA visitors from many European countries to travel to the new headquarters by road or quickly reach nearby international airports.

34 www.sk4ela.sk APPROXIMATE TRAVEL TIMES VIA HIGHWAY:

DRIVING DRIVING FROM/TO BRATISLAVA TIME DISTANCE

city centre 60 min 80 km VIENNA airport 40 min 58 km

city centre 120 min 200 km BUDAPEST airport 135 min 232 km

city centre 200 min 324 km PRAGUE airport 210 min 349 km

BRATISLAVA - SERVED BY 3 INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

The Slovak capital is in the catchment area of 3 international airports (Bratislava, Vienna and Budapest), serving a total of 35 million passengers annually. The very close distance between Bratislava and Vienna airport makes them an equal choice for travellers from Bratislava.

BRATISLAVA AIRPORT VIENNA AIRPORT BUDAPEST AIRPORT

DIRECT FLIGHTS TO ALL EU CAPITALS accessibilty of the location BRATISLAVA Bratislava and Vienna airports have direct flight connections to all EU capitals, in addition to Closest airport EEA countries (, ), and other major European cities. Most of to L12 - 15 minutes by car SLOVAKIA: A JUNCTION IN CENTRAL EUROPE the European capitals can be reached in less Fast security control than 2 hours. In total, more than 100 airlines operate flights from the 3 nearest airports and Ideal for private jets and accommodate the needs of both business and governmental flights budget travellers. www.sk4ela.sk 35 BRATISLAVA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

41 regular destinations 26 000 flights per year 1,8 mil. passengers Bratislava airport provides assistance services for people with special needs.

VIENNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

One of Europe‘s largest airports, services more than 100 airlines, with regular hourly flights to most of the capital cities in the European Union.

181 destinations in 73 countries 75 carriers 23,4 mil. passengers The airport provides free 24-hour support services for the disabled.

BUDAPEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

103 destinations 11,4 mil. passengers The airport serves as a hub for low-cost airlines and as a base for Ryanair.

36 www.sk4ela.sk LIST OF DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM BRATISLAVA AND VIENNA AIRPORTS TO EU CAPITALS AND OTHER MAJOR CITIES:

Frequency Duration Frequency Duration

Amsterdam 77 1h 55 min 25 1h 45 min

Athens 24 2h 10 min 39 3h 5 min

Barcelona 47 2h 20 min 12 2h 10 min

Berlin1 98 1h 20 min Manchester 13 2h 30 min

Birmingham 7 2h 30 min Milan6 56 1h 25 min

Brussels2 50 1h 45 min Moscow7 50 2h 40 min

Bucharest 52 1h 35 min Munich 55 55 min

Budapest 21 50 min Oslo 26 2h 25 min

Copenhagen 41 1h 45 min Paris8 89 2h 5 min

Dublin 22 2h 45 min Prague 37 50 min

Düsseldorf 73 1h 30 min Reykjavik 7 4h 25 min

Edinburgh 5 2h 45 min 12 2h 10 min

Frankfurt 90 1h 25 min Rome9 49 1h 35 min

Geneva 34 1h 35 min Rotterdam 5 1h 45 min

Hamburg 66 1h 35 min 38 1h 30 min

Helsinki 14 2h 20 min Stockholm10 35 2h 15 min

Istanbul3 51 2h 15 min St. Petersburg 12 2h 30 min

Krakow 18 1h 7 2h 15 min

Larnaca4 28 3h 5 min 7 1h 50 min

Lisbon 18 3h 35 min 49 1h 15 min accessibilty of the location

Ljubljana 14 45 min 31 50 min

London5 115 2h 25 min Zurich 65 1h 20 min SLOVAKIA: A JUNCTION IN CENTRAL EUROPE

1 Tegel, Schönefeld 6 Malpensa, Orio al Serio Apt Note: as of 13th April 2019 2 Airport, Brussels Charleroi 7 Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo Source: Vienna Airport Flight 3 Ataturk, Sabiha Gokcen 8 Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Beauvais Schedule (13.04.2019 - 26.10.2019), 4 50 km from 9 Fiumicino, Ciampino Bratislava Airport Flight Schedule 5 Heathrow, Luton, Gatwick, Southend, Stansted 10 Arlanda, Skavsta (31.03.2019 - 26.10.2019)

www.sk4ela.sk 37 Source: tracker.flightview.com

QUICK TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORTS

When traveling to the proposed ELA seat from Bratislava airport or Vienna airport, various cost effective means of transport are available (cars, taxis, buses as well as trains). The fastest option is to drive by car or taxi. Trip from the Bratislava airport lasts about 15 min and approx. 40 min from the Vienna airport.

Bus connections, both local and international, are another convenient and reliable mode of transportation. Bus transport is operated by the national operator, Slovak Lines, as well as a variety of private and well-known international providers.

Bratislava main bus station is the most common destination for people traveling from Vienna airport to Bratislava by bus. The station is only few-minute walk from the proposed seat.

38 www.sk4ela.sk GETTING FROM VIENNA AIRPORT TO BRATISLAVA

Time: 42 min BY TAXI Price: €40 - €60 Frequency: 24 hours

Time: 1 hour BY BUS Price: €1,50 - €5,50/€2,90 - €11 (one way/return ticket) Frequency: at least 25x/day

Time: 1 hour 10 min BY TRAIN Price: €10 /€16 (city centre) (one way/return ticket) Frequency: every hour accessibilty of the location SLOVAKIA: A JUNCTION IN CENTRAL EUROPE

www.sk4ela.sk 39 RAILWAY TRANSPORT

Bratislava has very good rail connections with the rest of Europe. There are numerous and frequent direct services between Bratislava and other EU capitals.

Direct railway connections from Bratislava to selected EU capitals:

DESTINATION DISTANCE DURATION

Vienna 60 km 1h 10 min

Budapest 204 km 2h 42 min

Prague 396 km 3h 56 min

Warsaw 615 km 6h 55 min

Berlin 793 km 8h 47 min

As a second option, travellers to ELA can use train connections to Vienna and then continue to Bratislava. Examples of cities with direct rail links to Vienna: , Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, , Warsaw, , Zurich, , , , Milan, Nice and .

ACCOMODATING VISITORS

Sufficient hotel capacity

When it comes to accommodating visitors to ELA, Bratislava hotels provide a world-class quality at affordable prices. Visitors can choose from variety of hotel offerings, ranging from luxury hotel chains to cosy boutique hotels.

The Slovak capital is ready to accommodate the high number of The Slovak Presidency of the visitors to ELA in various hotel facilities. The Bratislava hotel Council of the European Union market is sufficiently large for ELA‘s needs. in 2016 demonstrated that Total capacity of Bratislava hotels is around 12 800 beds. Bratislava can accommodate On average, about 3 000 hotel beds are unoccupied on tens of thousands of any given day. international visitors during a short period of time

40 www.sk4ela.sk Varied and affordable

Despite being one of the wealthiest regions in the EU, Bratislava offers very competitive hotel prices. They vary depending on the hotel type from €89 to €235. There are around 75 hotels in Bratislava (108 in Bratislava region), in addition to other facilities like guesthouses. Different types of hotels are available with a broad range of amenities and different price options. 35 four-star hotels with a capacity of around 6 700 beds and 8 five-star hotels with a capacity of almost 1 200 beds. There are also many more affordable options (e.g. 26 three-star hotels).

World-class quality

The Slovak capital placed second in the European hotels’ quality evaluation, according to a Hotel.info survey. The Wall Street Journal ranked Bratislava hotels among the “Top five cleanest hotels worldwide”.

GRAND HOTEL

RIVER PARK accessibilty of the location

The hotel is located on the bank of the Danube River and offers a promenade area right in front of the hotel door. Good accessibility to international

airports allows for an effortless journey SLOVAKIA: A JUNCTION IN CENTRAL EUROPE and offers the highest standard of comfort. The hotel has a gracious and modern design and serves both business as well as leisure travellers.

www.sk4ela.sk 41 RADISSON BLU CARLTON HOTEL

Luxury accommodation located in the very heart of the historical centre of Bratislava, provides a charming view of the with its numerous restaurants, cafés, shops and cultural monuments. Besides first-class accommodation and related services, the hotel also offers its visitors conference facilities.

MARROL’S BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Marrol‘s Boutique Hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Bratislava‘s historical centre, just few-minute walk from the historical building of the Slovak National Theatre, St. Martin‘s Cathedral or the Primate’s Palace. The hotel provides accommodation in 51 guestrooms and 3 individually designed suites and apartments with a view of the Old Town streets or hotel garden courtyard. Guests can enjoy a relaxing experience in the hotel spa and taste Mediterranean or traditional in the hotel restaurant.

42 www.sk4ela.sk SHERATON BRATISLAVA HOTEL

Located on the bank of the Danube river as part of a large mixed-used area containing shopping mall and other entertainment, cultural and leisure facilities. Only 5 min walk from the historical centre. All 209 of the hotel’s guestrooms and suites offer high- speed internet access. ZION SPA PREMIUM, complimentary to all hotel guests, offers 800 sqm. of wellness and fitness area. 8 functional rooms with more than 700 sqm. can accommodate various business or social events.

HOTEL STARS HOTEL ROOMS MEETING ROOMS LARGEST MEET. ROOM THEATER BANQUET RECEPTION

Grand Hotel River Park 5 231 12 256 350 220 350

Hotel Sheraton 209 6 300 380 200 400

Tulip Boutique Hotel 5 28 3 72 60 40 120

Marrol‘s Boutique Hotel 5 54 2 64 40 22 40

Hotel Arcadia 5 34 3 101 80 50 90

Hotel Albrecht 5 10 1 30 X X X

Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel 4 170 7 300 380 260 400

Hotel Devín 4 87 4 210 150 60 150

Crowne Plaza 224 14 317 350 160 350 accessibilty of the location Austria Trend Hotel Bratislava 4 199 6 211 220 130 180

Falkensteiner Hotel Bratislava 4 162 6 173 250 100 300

Hotel Saffron 4 118 9 800 550 600 700

Hotel 4 200 5 273 210 160 200

Mercure Bratislava centre 4 175 7 144 150 72 140 SLOVAKIA: A JUNCTION IN CENTRAL EUROPE

Loft Hotel Bratislava 4 121 4 110 80 X X

Lindner Hotel Gallery Central 4 222 4 170 180 80 200

Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Bratislava 4 120 7 561 650 500 800

www.sk4ela.sk 43 LIVING IN BRATISLAVA

Bratislava currently has a fast-growing real estate market. All types of apartments are being added to the market and most of them are well-suited for family life (3 and more room units).

Housing in Bratislava meets price variability requirements as all price options are available. Luxury villas and high-end apartments are on offer as well as middle-class residential projects in the inner city or in the suburbs.

The assumption is that the preferred option of the ELA staff will be rental flats. Currently, there is a sufficient offer of such housing on the Bratislava market.

AVAILABLE APARTMENTS FOR AT THE END OF Q4 2018

Average rent per month

MUNICIPAL DISTRICT AVAILABLE APARTMENTS 1-ROOM 2-ROOM 3-ROOM 4-ROOM

BA I (city centre) 1 221 €555 €850 €1 265 €1 861

BA II (inner city) 834 €471 €572 €789 €1 130

BA III (inner city) 522 €446 €603 €833 €1 209

BA IV (outskirts) 374 €415 €569 €745 €1 309

BA V (outskirts) 443 €464 €627 €701 €722

TOTAL 3 394

Source : LEXXUS

New housing developments will provide future ELA employees and their families with a wide array of housing options. These range from comfortable apartments in the historical city centre to family homes in green suburbs, or modern spacious apartments in high-rise residential projects.

44 www.sk4ela.sk NEW RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS/ AVAILABLE APARTMENTS FOR SALE AT THE END OF Q4 2018

Average sale price with VAT

MUNICIPAL DISTRICT AVAILABLE APARTMENTS 1-ROOM 2-ROOM 3-ROOM 4-ROOM

BA I (city centre) 371 €155 325 €196 167 €340 261 €612 212

BA II (inner city) 505 €116 945 €148 870 €190 212 €274 127

BA III (inner city) 495 €96 345 €154 843 €237 815 €361 932

BA IV (outskirts) 659 €84 688 €126 746 €179 432 €258 549

BA V (outskirts) 393 €85 017 €129 059 €184 704 €259 394

TOTAL 2 411

Source : LEXXUS EUROVEA CITY SKY PARK

This project presents a contemporary SKY PARK is a unique multi-purpose development project, 21st century architecture, high designed by the world-renowned architecture studio Zaha Hadid quality living for families and Architects. The SKY PARK project will include a new city park with individuals, versatile amenities, and an area of more than 20 000 sqm, which will be accessible to all excellent accessibility in the centre of inhabitants of Bratislava. This project is literally just accross the Bratislava. street from ELA’s proposed seat in Bratislava.

One of the most anticipated projects located right under the castle hill is only one step away from implementation. has the ambition to expand the current pedestrian zone of the city centre, and thus become a natural link between the old town and new developments on the Danube waterfront. accessibilty of the location

EUROVEA CITY SLOVAKIA: A JUNCTION IN CENTRAL EUROPE Expected delivery 2023

SKY PARK Expected delivery 2020

www.sk4ela.sk 45 VYDRICA

One of the most anticipated projects located right under the castle hill is only one step away from implementation. Vydrica has the ambition to expand the current pedestrian zone of the city centre, and thus become a natural link between the old town and new developments on the Danube waterfront.

VYDRICA Expected delivery 2022

GUTHAUS

Guthaus is an unconventional residential project whose architectural design is the work of internationally renowned architects. They have an ambition to bring high living standard into the city outskirts, and revitalize its surrounding areas.

GUTHAUS Expected delivery 2021

46 www.sk4ela.sk GANSBERG KOLIBA Expected delivery 2019

GANSBERG KOLIBA

The project is located a short distance from the forest park, which offers accessibilty of the location diverse opportunities – from walking with your family to outdoor sports. At the same time, you can easily reach the centre at any time and enjoy all the benefits of the city. SLOVAKIA: A JUNCTION IN CENTRAL EUROPE

www.sk4ela.sk 47 48 www.sk4ela.sk SLOVAKIA: A RICH TRADITION IN MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION

www.sk4ela.sk 49 DIVERSE EDUCATION OPTIONS

The Slovak education system provides high- quality education at all levels of the school system. Education options include state- funded public schools, private schools, church schools and schools offering international curricula. Public schools in Slovakia provide primary and secondary education free of charge. State-run higher education is also free for full- time students, provided that the standard length of study is not exceeded. Bratislava offers a wide range of schooling facilities for bilingual or multilingual children ranging from preschools through primary and secondary education. These schools offer various recognized international curricula in English. There are schools teaching in German, Spanish, Italian and French. Capacity at nurseries, kindergardens and primary schools is growing steadily and is ready to accommodate the needs of ELA’s staff. Slovakia has a strong tradition of extracurricular activities for students at different types of schools. These are provided by schools, or by various types of school facilities, both state and private. Among the most popular are art schools, which provide primary and secondary art education, and language schools. School facilities also include “school clubs” and “free time centres”. The Slovak education environment puts great Capacity of nurseries and emphasis on healthy eating habits. There is a kindergardens schools in Bratislava: rigorously planned and controlled dining system 14 000 and it’s yearly increasing aimed at providing appropriate nutritional value and varied diet for students. International private secondary schools: 7

Bilingual grammar schools in Bratislava offer more than 3 000 places for students (incl. 8-year grammar schools)

Universities: 12

50 www.sk4ela.sk neighbouring Austrianmunicipalitiesclose toBratislava. schools). Forchildrenfrom German-speakingbackground,thereistheoptionto attendschoolfacilitiesin Bilingual grammarschools inBratislavaoffermorethan3000placesforstudents (incl.8-yeargrammar attend prestigiousAmerican andEuropeanuniversities. study programmesanddiplomas,suchasIB,AP,MYP programmes,GermanAbitur,etc.Theirgraduatesoften of theseschoolscatertotheneedsbilingualormultilingual childrenandofferinternationallyrecognized For childrenofELAstaff,thereare7internationalprivate highschoolsteachinginternationalcurricula.Most 2017 the highestinOECDcountries( according toOECDData.Uppersecondarygraduation ratesforyoungpeopleaged25orunderareamong The secondaryschoolqualificationoftheadultSlovak populationisthesecondhighestinOECDarea and Russianlanguage. offer bilingualeducationwithprogrammesinEnglish,German,Spanish,French,Italian,butalsotheBulgarian Bratislava isthehomeofwell-knowninternationalschoolsandtoprankedbilingualschools.Theseinstitutes grammar schoolsandsecondarywithspecialization(includingartsvocationalprogrammes). Slovakia putsalotofemphasisonthequalitysecondaryschooleducation.Thereiswiderange these schoolsalsoprovidesecondaryeducation,sooftenthereisnoneedtotransferadifferentschool. Primary schooltuitionisprovidedby6internationalschoolsinanumberofforeignlanguages.Most to accommodatechildrenoftheAuthority’sstaff. this isahighlyflexiblemarketwhichwillalsobeable This representsapprox.5%annualgrowthindicating Bratislava regionandapproximately14000inBratislava. growing, andtheseofferabout22000placesinthe Capacity atnurseriesandkindergardensiscontinuously SECONDARY SCHOOLS NURSERIES, KINDERGARDENSANDELEMENTARYSCHOOLS www.sk4ela.sk rate withabout45000schoolplacesintheBratislavaregion,ofwhicharound30areBratislava. t a similar Capacity atprimaryschoolsinBratislavaissteadilygrowingatsimilar Bratislava offers more than 140 public and Bratislava offersmorethan140publicand private nurseries and kindergardens. Learning private nurseriesandkindergardens.Learning tuition andMontessoriprogrammes. programmes focus mainly on the educational, programmes focusmainlyontheeducational, kindergardens offering English, German and French kindergardens offeringEnglish,GermanandFrench emotional andphysicaldevelopment ). are also 5 international private nurseries and are also5internationalprivatenurseriesand teaching ofinternationallanguages.There Source: Educationataglance:Educationalattainmentand labour-forcestatus, 51

SLOVAKIA: A RICH TRADITION IN MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION existence of adequate education facilities for the children of ELA staff PROFILES OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS IN BRATISLAVA

QSI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BRATISLAVA CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (QSIB) BRATISLAVA

www.qsi.org/slovakia/svk www.cambridgeschool.eu (nursery, , ) (nursery, primary school, secondary school)

QSIB is a private school offering American Cambridge International School is an English international education in the for language international school licensed to operate children aged 2 to 18. The current school capacity is an international curricula based on programmes about 290 students. from Cambridge International Education and the UK national curricula. QSIB is accredited by the Middle States Association, and upon graduation students gain an International The school has students from more than 20 Baccalaureate Diploma or other diplomas different countries who are taught by native English recognized by colleges and universities around the teachers. Maximum class size is 18 students. world.

The school has 35 classrooms, a library, computer ENGLISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF laboratories, science laboratories, theatre, and BRATISLAVA playground areas. Other facilities include an indoor swimming pool, fitness facility, dance and exercise www.eisbratislava.com rooms, , snack bar and cafeteria. (nursery, primary school, secondary school)

English International School of Bratislava (EISB) is a BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL non-selective international school in Bratislava. BRATISLAVA The school follows the IB Middle years programme www.nordangliaeducation.com (MYP), and from offers the IB Diploma Programme (nursery, primary school, secondary school) (IB DP). The school currently has around 160 students and is firmly based on the academic The British International School Bratislava is part standards found in a typical British independent of Nord Anglia Education, a global family of 44 school. international schools, providing education to over 38,400 students from preschool to secondary education.

The school has a capacity of 770 students and more than 45 nationalities are represented.

1 Lists and overviews in this chapter are not exhaustive

52 www.sk4ela.sk www.sk4ela.sk than 200students. and Slovakcurricula.Theschoolhascurrentlymore Students areeducatedinlinewithboththeFrench over 330000studentsofallnationalities. about 500schoolsin135countries,attendedby French EducationAbroad.Thisnetworkcomprises establishments administeredbytheAgencyfor in 2003andispartofthenetworkschool The FrenchSchoolinBratislavawasestablished (nursery, primaryschool,secondaryschool) www.ecolefrancaise.sk DE BRATISLAVA ÉCOLE FRANÇAISE class is16. 3 to19andthemaximumnumberofstudentsper Galileo Schoolprovideseducationtochildrenaged centre. provide furtherexamsandisaUCASregistered The schoolalsopartnerswithBritishCouncilto A/AS LevelqualificationsaswellSATtesting. It isaprivateschoolofferingCambridgeIGCSEand (nursery, primaryschool,secondaryschool) www.galileoschool.sk GALILEO SCHOOL

Slovak highschooldiploma. speaking studentscanattainGermananda most advancedcurriculainGermany.Slovak Württemberg state,regardedasoneofthe the GermancurriculafromBaden- school education.Tuitionisbasedon It providesnursery,primaryandgrammar school inBratislava. 2005 andisaGermanlanguageinternational Deutsche SchuleBratislavawasopenedin (nursery, primaryschool,secondaryschool) www.deutscheschule.sk BRATISLAVA DEUTSCHE SCHULE

53

SLOVAKIA: A RICH TRADITION IN MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION existence of adequate education facilities for the children of ELA staff BILINGUAL SCHOOLS AND FOREIGN-LANGUAGE NURSERIES/KINDERGARDENS

School name Education level Languages Type

Gymnázium Jura Hronca Grammar School English public

Súkromné Gymnázium Česká Grammar School English private

Bilingválne Gymnázium C.S. Lewisa Grammar School English public

Gymnázium, Pankúchova 6 Grammar School English public

Evanjelické lýceum v Bratislave Secondary school English public

Gymnázium Metodova 2 Grammar School French public

Gymnázium Bilíkova Grammar School German public

Obchodná akadémia Imricha Karvaša Bratislava Secondary school German public

Gymnázium Ladislava Sáru Grammar School Italian public

Gymnázium Alberta Einsteina Grammar School Russian public

Gymnázium Federica Garcíu Lorcu Grammar School Spanish public

Bulharská ZŠ a gymnázium Christa Boteva, Záporožská Primary and Grammar School Bulgarian private

Súkromná ZŠ s vyučovacím jazykom slovenským a ruským Primary school Russian private

Súkromná ZŠ Wonderschool, Bilíkova ul. Primary school English private

Súkromná ZŠ ESPRIT, Majerníkova ul. Primary school English private

Súkromná ZŠ Forel International School, Kremeľská Primary school English private

Brilliant Stars Intl. Primary School and Kindergarden Kindergarden and Primary school English private

Unity House International Montessori Kindergarden Nursery and kindergarden English private

Babyland Nursery and kindergarden English private

As Bratislava is within commuting distance of Vienna, nurseries and day-care centres in Vienna with a total Austrian international schools would also be a realistic capacity of 86 000. In addition to 700 public schools, option for ELA employees. Daily commuting to Austrian nine international schools in Vienna have a total schools is a common practice among international capacity of 5 702 places. communities living in Bratislava. There are 350 public

54 www.sk4ela.sk A noted alumnus of the UNIVERSITIES STU is Štefan Klein, the aeromobil co-founder and chief designer Bratislava provides a comprehensive choice of educational institutions.

COMENIUS UNIVERSITY, the largest university in THE UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS provides Slovakia, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. education in 19 study programmes at the first level The university is regularly ranked in the international of study (Bachelor’s), in 31 study programmes at rankings of the best universities in the world. With the second level of study (Master‘s), and in 16 study thirteen faculties, it offers the widest selection of programmes at the third level of study (Doctoral). study programmes (over 800 programmes ranging It offers also foreign-language study programmes, from liberal arts to medicine and science). which can be studied in English, French or German.

Bratislava also provides an excellent technical university education through the SLOVAK UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (STU). STU is a research university involved in numerous international Research & Development projects. Aeromobil is a good example of exceptional quality of technical education.

All faculties adopted a system compatible with the European SLOVAKIA: A RICH TRADITION IN MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION existence of adequate education facilities for the children ELA staff credit transfer system, enabling mutual mobility of students between the European Union Member States.

The University of Economics (EU) provides comprehensive education in economics and management study programmes.

MAROŠ ŠEFČOVIČ the Vice-President of the for the Energy Union, obtained a PhD in international at the in Bratislava. www.sk4ela.sk 55 56 www.sk4ela.sk BRATISLAVA: A WELCOMING EUROPEAN CAPITAL

www.sk4ela.sk 57 DEVELOPED AND PERSPECTIVE REGION

The Bratislava region has one of the highest been one of the main drivers of its rapid economic concentrations of Foreign direct in Slovakia growth. in the Bratislava region is only (69% of total Foreign direct investment), which has 2,76% ( 2019).

EUROPEAN UNION BRATISLAVA AVERAGE REGION

GDP per capita €30 000 €36 700

Level of employment, age group 20 – 64 years 72,1% 79,2%

Level of unemployment, age group 20 – 64 years 7,5% 2,76%

Level of unemployment, age group 15 – 24 years 16,8% 13,0%

Source: Eurostat, Regional GDP in EU 2017

The Bratislava region is creates plentiful employment economically the most developed opportunities in the city and the region of Slovakia. In 2017, the wider region, providing a wide region was ranked the eighth range of well-paid career wealthiest region by GDP options for the partners and per capita (out of more than spouses of ELA employees. 260 EU regions). This growth

Our city is proud to be the hometown of Slovak brands which have become worldwide leaders in their field.

ESET IT SECURITY SYSTEMS Global leader in IT security solutions

SOITRON IT SOLUTIONS Developer of IT solutions from integrated communication systems to mobile police units

PIXEL FEDERATION Developer and producer of browser-based and mobile games

SYGIC NAVIGATION SYSTEMS Developer of GPS navigation for a wide range of mobile devices 17 coworking spaces

Over 60 international service centres

Hometown of world-class brands

58 www.sk4ela.sk CAREER OPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

Opportunities in Bratislava include, however are competences. Employees are required to speak not limited to, service centres (shared services English and 57% speak English plus at least one other centres and business process centres), core language (such as German, French, Italian, or information and communications technology, Spanish). financial services, , healthcare, design, marketing and academia. Bratislava is a International service centres in Bratislava include: city with entrepreneurial spirit and provides a good , Adient, , AT&T, Allianz, , environment for small entrepreneurs and start-ups. , , HPE, IBM, ING GSO, Johnson Controls, , Mondelez, Orange, Swiss Bratislava is a great place for freelancers, too. There Re, Siemens, Zürich group, and Yanfeng. In are 17 coworking spaces available and this offer has many cases these centres actively search for native been increasing steadily. language speakers from across Europe.

Bratislava has a fast developing labour market, Additional job opportunities are offered by offering unique career opportunities for people numerous professional services companies (big four searching for an innovative and challenging work consultancies: Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), KPMG environment. and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), international law firms and various other consultancy companies). Many multinational companies with branches in As the capital and political centre of Slovakia, Bratislava cater to senior international employees Bratislava also provides attractive job opportunities without skills. This diverse group of at international embassies and at many non- employers ranges from manufacturing (automotive, governmental organizations in their local branches chemical or electronics industry) to service centres. (Amnesty International, Transparency International, Greenpeace and others). Job opportunities for family members of ELA staff are abundant in the shared services & business process Information technology is another major sector in outsourcing centres, which are among the most Slovakia which provides opportunities for foreign important sectors in Slovakia. Their operations are language professionals (e.g. ESET, Atos or SAP). diverse and cover areas such as finance, accounting, Based on the statistics of the biggest and best-known IT, procurement, sales, and customer support. job offers portal in Slovakia Profesia, there were more than 20 000 job offers in 2018 published in Currently, there are more than 60 such centres in English. These types of offers are usually targeting

Slovakia (mostly in Bratislava) employing more than the native speakers of respective languages as BRATISLAVA: A WELCOMING EUROPEAN CAPITAL appropriate access to labour market, social security and medical care for both children spouses 30 000 employees, 13% of which are non . company‘s potential employees. By definition, these centres require multilingual

100 000

Number of job offers published in 75 000 Slovak and English language 25 000

2018

Q1 2019 0 Slovak English www.sk4ela.sk 59 Table of the correction coefficients applicable to the remuneration and of officials and other servants of the European Union referred to in Article 64 of the Staff Regulations

Austria 106,3 117,7

Bulgaria 55,2 96,5

Croatia 76,4 77,6

Cyprus 77,9 73,6

Czech Republic 83,0 109,9

Denmark 131,9 Malta 90,2

Estonia 82,2 68,6

France 116,7 85,7

Finland 118,5 64,0

Germany 99,3 Slovakia 78,5

Great Britain 134,7 84,6

Greece 81,8 91,7

Hungary 71,9 122,0

100

Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1551115053882&uri=CELEX:52018XC1214(01)

60 www.sk4ela.sk COSMOPOLITAN

Bratislava has always had a cosmopolitan character as evidenced by centuries of peaceful coexistence between various ethnic and religious groups. It was home to , , Slovaks and other nationalities, and it was common that Bratislavans spoke at least three languages. This cosmopolitan spirit is still present here. Today, Bratislava is becoming increasingly popular among internationals. Currently, there are about 35 000 employees from EU employed in Slovakia, of which 12 000 are employed in the Bratislava region. Additionally, there are more than 10 000 international students studying at Slovak universities, mostly in Bratislava. In total, there are more than 70 000 internationals living in Slovakia, 55% of which are citizens of other EU Member States.

The most represented international communities in Bratislava are Polish, German, Italian, Austrian, English, French and Spanish.

SAFETY FIRST

In comparison with other capital cities, Bratislava can be regarded as a very safe, quiet and less stressful. The crime rate here is low.

Level of crime index 22,16 (low)

Safety index 77,84 (very high)

Safety walking alone during daylight index 89,71 (very high)

Safety walking alone at night index 66,6 (high)

Source: Numbeo Note: Higher score indicates better results with the exception of Crime index where lower score represents better ranking

The ranked Slovakia as the 26th most peaceful country globally. Similarly, Slovakia scored well on the 2018 and was ranked 126th out of 138 countries, indicating one of the lowest risks (impacts) of terrorism. BRATISLAVA: A WELCOMING EUROPEAN CAPITAL appropriate access to labour market, social security and medical care for both children spouses

QUALITY OF LIFE

Bratislava offers excellent quality of life at reasonable cost. According to the Mercer Quality of Life Survey, Bratislava consistently ranks near the first third of 229 cities, and is improving its ranking each year.

www.sk4ela.sk 61 HIGH-QUALITY HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY

The Slovak system provides access to all branches of Bratislava has a high concentration of hospitals. There social security to Slovak citizens as well as EU and third are 8 public hospitals and 21 separate clinics including country nationals on the basis of economic activity 9 private medical centres. There are approximately or residence permit. Thus, the Slovak social security 4 000 hospital beds catered to by more than 1 300 system has sufficient capacity to cover children and highly skilled doctors. spouses of ELA staff in line with applicable national and EU law. Bratislava is also a home to the largest hospital in Slovakia - the University Hospital in Bratislava, which Slovakia has a modern, reliable and extensive comprises five hospitals providing about 57% of all healthcare system. It is characterized by unlimited hospital beds in Bratislava. There are around 1 400 access to all levels of care and free choice of providers. doctors, including those providing outpatient care. Slovak healthcare facilities are typically used by international workers living in Slovakia, since doctors Besides general hospitals there are also specialized and dentists in Bratislava generally have a good facilities in Bratislava. The National Institute for command of English and the quality of service is at a Cardiovascular Diseases is the top centre for very good level. cardiovascular medicine in the Slovak Republic. The Institute takes part in basic and applied cardiovascular The Slovak health care system is based on universal clinical research with subsequent application of coverage and compulsory health contributions paid research findings into practice. In terms of medical to a health insurance company of the employee’s education, the Institute fulfils the role of a training choice. Health insurance is mandatory for all Slovak base for the Slovak Medical University and the Faculty citizens and those having temporary and permanent of Medicine of the Comenius University in Bratislava. residence permit. All health insurance companies issue the European Health Care Insurance Card to The National Cancer Institute (NCA) is a cancer- their clients. Most services are specialized hospital for the provision of comprehensive provided free-of-charge health care in the field of outpatient as well as or subsidized by inpatient health care. It contains joint diagnostic and insurance. treatment units and intensive health care facilities.

Bratislava

Skill and competence of medical staff index 65,2 (High)

Equipment for modern diagnosis and treatment index 66,67 (High)

Public hospitals 8

Private medical centres 9

English speaking doctors 

Electronic health care system 

62 www.sk4ela.sk DRINKING WATER

Slovakia is proud of its top quality local food, beverages and drinking water. Drinking water sources in the Slovak Republic are of the highest quality. Both groundwater (82,2%) and surface water (17,8%) are exploited as drinking water sources in Slovakia. Žitný ostrov is the biggest natural groundwater in central Europe. Solely groundwater sources are used for abstraction of drinking water in the regions of Bratislava, and .

Freshwater resources per inhabitant — long-term annual average (1 000 m³ per inhabitant) BRATISLAVA: A WELCOMING EUROPEAN CAPITAL appropriate access to labour market, social security and medical care for both children spouses

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained

Access to clean drinking water supply is an important public health measure. According to the European Commission, access to good quality water could reduce bottled water consumption by 17%. Less bottled water would help people save money and also have a positive impact on the environment, by reducing CO2 emissions and plastic waste. Drinking tap water is cheap and environmentally friendly.

www.sk4ela.sk 63 BRATISLAVA A CITY TO SEE

Stroll the streets of the city from the historic Old Town hall to the modern UFO bridge.

BRATISLAVA CASTLE

The castle has been the symbol of the city for centuries. Located on a hill directly above the Danube, it provides excellent views of the city and neighbouring countries.

ST. MARTIN‘S CATHEDRAL

A three-nave Gothic church from the 15th century and the former church. A gilded replica of the coronation fixed on the top of the cathedral at a height of 85 meters and weighing 150 kg commemorates this glorious age.

OLD TOWN HALL

The oldest city hall in the country and one of the oldest stone buildings still standing in Bratislava. Housing the oldest museum of the city and owning a tower that offers a charming view on the city centre to its visitors.

64 www.visitbratislava.com www.sk4ela.sk DEVÍN CASTLE

One of the most important landmarks of Slovakia is located on the hill at the confluence of the Danube and rivers. The Devin castle remembers the glory and fall of Great and was blown up by Napoleon’s army. Later it was declared to be a national cultural monument of Slovakia.

PRIMATE‘S PALACE

A classicist 18th century palace, which a unique collection of six English tapestries from 17th century and also serves as the representative seat of the Mayor of Bratislava.

GRASSALKOVICH PALACE

A Rococo palace from 18th century. Since 1996 it has served as the seat of the President of the Slovak Republic. BRATISLAVA: A WELCOMING EUROPEAN CAPITAL appropriate access to labour market, social security and medical care for both children spouses

BLUE CHURCH

Also known as St. Elizabeth‘s church it was built in the style at the beginning of the 20th century and is remarkable for the colour of its façade and roof. www.sk4ela.sk www.visitbratislava.com 65 SYNAGOGUE

The Synagogue was constructed between 1923 – 1926 in the Cubist style. The permanent exhibition of the Jewish Community Museum is installed upstairs and is open to the public during the summer .

RUBBERNECK (ČUMIL)

The bronze figure of a man peeking out from beneath a manhole cover is undoubtedly the most photographed statue in the city.

THE BRIDGE (THE SNP BRIDGE)

The oldest city hall in the country and one of the oldest stone buildings still standing in Bratislava. Housing the oldest museum of the city and owning a tower that offers a charming view on the city centre to its visitors.

66 www.visitbratislava.com www.sk4ela.sk SLOVAK RADIO BUILDING

Shaped like an upside-down , the Slovak Radio building is an iconic feature of Bratislava’s cityscape. BRATISLAVA: A WELCOMING EUROPEAN CAPITAL appropriate access to labour market, social security and medical care for both children spouses

SLAVÍN

The largest war memorial and cemetery in central Europe, located prominently on a hill above Bratislava.

www.sk4ela.sk www.visitbratislava.com 67 BRATISLAVA A CITY TO EXPERIENCE

Bratislava’s rich history is showcased through the collections of some 50 museums and almost 20 galleries. Bratislava is also home to numerous performing arts institutions including nearly 30 theatres, philharmonic orchestra, chamber orchestras, etc.

SLOVAK NATIONAL THEATRE

A Neo-Renaissance theatre building from the 19th century located in Bratislava Old Town. The building has housed Slovak National Theatre ensembles since 1920 and is based on a design by the Viennese architects Fellner & Helmer.

CORONATION CITY

Bratislava was the coronation city from 1563 to 1830 and it was in St. Martin‘s Cathedral where ten monarchs were crowned (including ). Bratislava commemorates its coronation history with Coronation Days organized every year in June.

NEDBALKA GALLERY Every year, almost 20 000 The Nedbalka Gallery‘s visitors from Vienna come permanent exposition to Bratislava to enjoy opera provides an overview performances. Majority of them of the 20th century Slovak and come by boat – Twin City liner, . which has a pier just nearby the Opera building.

68 www.visitbratislava.com www.sk4ela.sk BRATISLAVA THE CULTURAL SUMMER A CITY TO EXPERIENCE AND CASTLE FESTIVAL

The biggest city festival, called Cultural Summer and Celebrations is a multi-genre festival for residents and visitors to the capital organized in early June.

DANUBIANA GALLERY

This museum of modern art is located less than 20 km south of Bratislava on a peninsula surrounded by the Danube river. In the adjacent sculpture park, visitors can see the works of several world-famous artists, such as El Lissitzky, Magdalena Abakanowicz or Hans van de Bovenkamp.

WHITE NIGHT FESTIVAL

The biggest and most visited contemporary art festival in Bratislava. White Night is a renowned international art project, which transforms the night city into an interactive space. BRATISLAVA: A WELCOMING EUROPEAN CAPITAL appropriate access to labour market, social security and medical care for both children spouses

GOOD MARKET

The Good Market hones the traditional markets of open streets and courtyards for people, creates a place for meetings and experience. It supports small producers and quality domestic products including products of diverse cultures and ethnic groups that are part of our society.

www.sk4ela.sk www.visitbratislava.com 69 BRATISLAVA A CITY OF TASTES

Bratislava offers an exceptional gastronomical Thanks to the mild locals and internationals experience, with dozens of stylish cafés, bistros alike enjoy the atmosphere of pleasant summer and restaurants offering a cozy atmosphere and nights on the terraces, bars and restaurants along original homemade specialties ranging from the Danube. traditional dishes to modern and healthy cuisine.

BRATISLAVA BURGESS

Located in Drevena Street follows an old tradition of the famous Burgess Brewery, “Die Bürgerliche Brauerei“, called the Burgher by residents. Nice beer was brewed there and the adjacent brewery restaurant was well- known for its domestic cuisine. The new brewery is on three floors and it aims to lure visitors mainly with a special kind of its own beer which it produces in opposition to industrially brewed beer.

BRUNCH AND SPOTS

From a French bakery to a coffeeshop serving locally roasted coffe beans, from American to eggs Benedict, Bratislava has many fabulous options for breakfast and brunch. You can start your day at Merica, Urban House, Zeppelin or Rannô Ptáča.

FOOD & CRAFT MARKETS

Every Saturday morning a traditional farmer’s market takes place in the heart of city centre at Old Market hall. Popular places like Fresh market, Yeme market, Trch and many more are open daily, including a few zero waste shops.

70 www.visitbratislava.com www.sk4ela.sk BRATISLAVA BRATISLAVA ROLLS

A CITY OF TASTES Bratislava rolls are a typical Slovak delicacy, popular since the 16th century. Today this delicious sweet pastry with filling is protected by European Union “Traditional Speciality Guaranteed” certificate.

STREET FOOD PARK

Street Food Park brings food trucks with quality and interesting street food affront the Old Market Hall. In a lovely atmosphere you can enjoy , afternoon snack or gain energy for the evening program in the city centre. BRATISLAVA: A WELCOMING EUROPEAN CAPITAL appropriate access to labour market, social security and medical care for both children spouses

www.sk4ela.sk www.visitbratislava.com 71 BRATISLAVA A PLACE FOR SPORT AND RELAX

Take a break from the urban hustle and discover green areas right in the city centre.

JANKO KRÁĽ CITY PARK

Janko Kráľ City Park located on the right bank of the Danube is the oldest public park in central Europe.

CITY GARDENS

Bratislava is a city of gardens. These are popular places for walks, family picnics, or sports. One of the recent additions are Baroque gardens opened at the Bratislava castle.

RELAXING IN THE NATURE

Just minutes from the city you can spend the night in a tree house at Kačín or Dlhé Lúky. Other natural areas are well-equipped as well, e.g. Partizánska Lúka, which offers a fitness park, sports fields, picnic benches with gazebos and fireplaces, a natural amphitheatre and an educational trail.

72 www.visitbratislava.com www.sk4ela.sk BRATISLAVA THE BRATISLAVA FOREST PARK A PLACE FOR SPORT Part of the , it is a protected landscape area and a popular destination for nature and sports AND RELAX enthusiasts as well as for family excursions.

Bratislava is a “sport positive” city. From adrenaline sports to golf or yoga classes, you can find all types of possibilities for your leisure time.

RUNNING CITY

Running is one of the most popular sports in Bratislava. There are various running routes available, either through the city centre, or through the surrounding areas. Bratislava is also a home to famous running events, the most popular being the Devín - Bratislava run.

CITY GARDENS BRATISLAVA: A WELCOMING EUROPEAN CAPITAL appropriate access to labour market, social security and medical care for both children spouses

SPEEDBOATS, SCOOTERS AND WATER SKIS Bratislava ranks 3rd in the index of green city getaways They are often used on the Danube or on the published by TravelBird, piesky lake, one of the most popular summer resorts in Bratislava. a Dutch online holiday provider.

www.sk4ela.sk www.visitbratislava.com 73 WATER SPORTS CENTRE ČUNOVO

It‘s an artificial whitewater slalom , which is used by professional as well as amateur canoers, kayakers or rafters.

URBAN CYCLING

Cycling is very popular among the residents of Bratislava. The city and its surroundings offer an extensive network of cycling routes.

YOGA & SPIRIT

Bratislava is home to many yoga, Pilates and similar studios with a warm and friendly atmosphere and professional instructors.

74 www.visitbratislava.com www.sk4ela.sk Imi Lichtenfeld, the founder of Krav-maga, grew up in Bratislava and his father was a chief inspector on the Bratislava police

CLIMBING WALLS

Climbing options for people prefering quality and difficult lines, but also for beginners offer numerous indoor climbing walls in Bratislava.

GOLF

Golf resorts near Bratislava boast charming environment and renowned restaurants. BRATISLAVA: A WELCOMING EUROPEAN CAPITAL appropriate access to labour market, social security and medical care for both children spouses

LANOLAND AT KOLIBA

A rope centre located in the beautiful scenery of Koliba.

www.sk4ela.sk www.visitbratislava.com 75 76 www.sk4ela.sk SLOVAKIA AT GLANCE www.sk4ela.sk 77 BRATISLAVA REGION

Despite being the smallest of all regions in Slovakia, the Bratislava region offers visitors many unique experiences and interesting destinations.

THE LITTLE CARPATHIAN WINE ROUTE

The Little Carpathian mountain region is well-known for its wine-growing tradition, wine cellars, and its . The wine-making history of this region goes back 2 500 years.

PEZINOK

Pezinok is a small town situated right in the middle of the Little Carpathian Wine Route, with plenty of restaurants and small shops selling local products. In the upper part of the town, there is a chateau dating back to the 13th century.

SAILING DOWN THE RIVER

Sailing down the Little Danube river is an unforgettable experience. It‘s also one of the most famous spots for rafting. The river can be easily navigated by beginners or even families with children.

SUNNY LAKES IN SENEC

One of the most popular summer resorts in the region. There is an aquapark located in the complex.

78 www.sk4ela.sk possibilities. one country. water ,sanddunesornaturaltravertineformationscreatedbyvolcanicactivity,itallcanbefoundin natural diversity:ninenationalparks,majesticpeaks,deepvalleys,mysteriousgorges.Largeforestsfulloflife, Discover Slovaknature,historyandfolklore.DespiteSlovakia’ssmallarea,itisknowntohaveanextremelyhigh SLOVAKIA the visitorsatx-bionic from Bratislava.Inadditiontotop-classOlympicsportsfacilities, This modernsportingandleisureresortissituatedonly25km X-BIONIC www.sk4ela.sk ® –ŠAMORÍN ® canfindawiderangeofotherrecreational Castles. Bratislava isoneofthebestpreservedSlovak situated justseveraltensofkilometresfrom This castledatesbacktothe13thcentury, RED STONECASTLE NATIONAL PARK THE HIGHTATRAS unofficial symbol ofthecountry. ,Kriváň,isconsidered an However, anotherpeaklocated inthe Tatras –Gerlachovskýštít (2 655m). peak inSlovakiaislocated intheHigh lakes andseveralwaterfalls.Thetallest fauna, containsmorethan100alpine unique protectedareaforfloraand mountain areaoftheTatrasandisa founded in1949.Itcoversthehigh- situated inthenorthofSlovakia,was The HighTatrasNationalPark(TANAP), 79

SLOVAKIA AT GLANCE DOBŠINSKÁ ĽADOVÁ JASKYŇA

Located in the Slovenský raj area, it is one of the largest ice in Europe. Thanks to its significance and unique features, it was included into the UNESCO World Heritage List

SLOVENSKÝ RAJ NATIONAL PARK

The Slovenský raj National Park (Slovak Paradise), situated in the eastern part of Slovakia, contains one of the biggest ice caves in Europe and an attractive landscape of karstic plateaus, gorges, waterfalls and caves. are represented by 200 species, including bear, lynx, wolf, deer and boar.

BYSTRIANSKA JASKYŇA CAVE

With a total length of more than 3 000 metres, this cave is also known for its long tradition of speleotherapy, a form of therapy carried out to treat respiratory diseases.

Slovakia was ranked 10th out of 153 countries according to the Good Country‘s Planet & Climate Index.

80 www.sk4ela.sk SPA AND MINERAL WATER IN SLOVAKIA

Slovakia is rich in deep underground springs with varying thermal and mineral properties. There are more than 1 600 mineral springs registered in Slovakia. Mineral water from springs is used either in spas or is bottled. Each year thousands of visitor travel to the most popular spas in Piešťany, Trenčianske Teplice or to receive special treatments with various kinds of mineral waters, or with mud, or just to enjoy the wide range of wellness procedures.

THE SPIŠ CASTLE SLOVENSKÝ RAJ NATIONAL PARK The Spiš Castle is the largest medieval castle compound in central Europe. It stands above the town Spišské Podhradie and was included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1993.

ORAVA CASTLE

The castle is situated on a high rock above river and the of Oravský Podzámok. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful castles in Slovakia. The original design was in Romanesque and Gothic style, it was later reconstructed as a Renaissance and Neo- Gothic structure.

BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA

Banská Štiavnica lies amid the Štiavnické vrchy mountains and is included in the UNESCO

World Heritage List. The former mining SLOVAKIA AT GLANCE town is one of the most beautiful in Slovakia. It is a completely preserved medieval town. The heart of the town is the historical Trinity Square dominated by a monumental plague column.

www.sk4ela.sk 81 © Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic, 2019

Photographs: Braňo Molnár Cover photo: Jan Gallo

Resources: www.visitbratislava.com www.shutterstock.com Respective hotels & developers www.sk4ela.sk