Slovakia is trying, at least on paper, to improve its reputation as a bad integrator of foreigners who come here, with the government giving the thumbs up to a draft bill on Integration Policy yesterday.
The policy looks at some of the reasons why Slovakia ranked the third worst country in the EU in terms of integrating foreigners (being outdone only by Cyprus and Latvia, according to TASR newswire), due to a general lack of information and language barrier problems at public offices, but also due to prejudices and stereotypes.
The policy considers setting up a special committee that will deal with the human rights of the almost 26,000 non-EU foreigners living here, as well as the organisation of courses of Slovak for foreigners and more foreign language courses for public servants.
Interesting theory. Hopefully it comes into practice.
This would also mean that the archaic 1992-1993 citizenship act must be updated like the Czechs and Hungarians have recently.
Slovakia is still the hardest country in the EU to give citizenship even if you have a mother or father who is a Slovak citizen.
The Ministry of Interior really has to get with the modern day otherwise its 2 more steps back.
…and that enlightening response come from a Guy call Mat Door ….or s that the other way round ?
Either way, Georgie.
Why is change sooooo slooooooow in Slooooowvakia?
Mat Door….Change Sloooow ? Because Slowvaks misspell words ??
Why change, when change means more oversight, means less opportunity to profit, means the people charged with change in matters are those that benefit .
Time for a Revolution perhaps ..?
Ha! A Revolution George? They’ve supposedly had one – you remember? Rattling their keys in dark corners, a change in name but, the same people, in the same jobs, the same politics, same corruption, same nepotism, same cronyism, same, “What’s my cut?”, attitude, same law bending, all controlled by the same elite and their proteges.
It’s quite clear that there are 4 distinct groupings in Slovak Society. Group A, mainly the elderly, so brainwashed by the previous regime that they believe every word and measure improvement by the weight of their purse. Group B, those who profit from the current situation – none jobs, cronies, state employees and people with the right connections. Group C, those who see all thats bad, yearn for change but do jack about it save moan. Group D, those who realise that there will never be any change for the common good here and vote with their feet and leave for distant lands and a better life.
Profesionali 2008, Episode 9, Classic!
Well perhaps they should employ Howard Cohen ….? He seems to think that he is Integrating Foreigners with his paid to view Quiz Nights and Comedy Central Performances ….
Gosh did I miss an opportunity for a Quiz on Tuesday ??? My life space will never be the same ……????
Credit where credit is due, there has been some improvement. The “foriegn police” now have residency forms in English and a couple of other languages – the interviewing officers however can only communicate in their mother tongue l ess of a problem for those of us who have a little Slovak but no comfort to new arrivals. Other government offices that foriegners are obliged to come into contact with – Business Registry, Criminal Records Office, Local government are another matter. Even though much of the contact with these offices only involves form filling, non to my knowledge provide forms in the principle languages. Language courses for public servants – a good move but watch this idea become a disaster. I related some years ago how the previous SMER govt. outsourced language training for the military to a firm with “conections” and who, despite only achieving a 5% pass rate, still enjoy this contract while highly qualified and experienced, state employed staff at the Military Language Institute are left twiddling their thumbs.
Why a special committee to deal with Non-EU human rights – they are universal and should be applied as such, no need for special anythings. Slovak language courses – great idea, I’d love to do one, but I work and only have free time in the evenings and would like to concentrate on vocational language skills – hows that going to pan out?