Slovakia hosts first EU institution

The ELA will have its headquarters in the centre of Bratislava.

Illustrative stock photoIllustrative stock photo (Source: TASR)

Slovakia has lost its bid to host the European Medicines Agency, but it will become the headquarters of the European Labour Authority (ELA).

The Commission for Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion made the decision in Luxembourg on June 13. The ELA will be the first EU institution based in Slovakia.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

The bid was preferred to those of other EU countries, including Romania, Latvia, Cyprus and Croatia. V4 countries and some Scandinavian countries supported Slovakia in the fight for the ELA.

Read also: Slovakia will compete with three countries over the European Labour Authority's seat Read more 

Headquarters in Bratislava

The ELA will have its headquarters in the building on Landererova Street 12 in the centre of Bratislava. This is the only building that meets the strict technical conditions defined by the European Commission and is available from October 2019.

SkryťTurn off ads

The government is preparing an assistance programme for the employees of the authority that will help arrange all the official affairs.

When confirming Bratislava's candidacy, Labour Minister Ján Richter stated that Slovakia is among the last of the countries to join the EU in 2004 and also part of the Schengen and Eurozone that does not have a European agency or institutions in its territory.

Aim of the authority

The main aim of the authority will be to improve the implementation of EU rights in the field of cross-border labour mobility and coordination of the social security scheme.

It will provide information to citizens and companies on their rights and duties linked to mobility, coordinating cooperation between member states, especially in cases of common inspection. The authority will also act as the mediator in cross-border disputes between member states.

SkryťTurn off ads

Top stories

Stock image.

Twice as many Ukrainians work in Slovakia now than before the Russian invasion.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad