Slovakia

Slovakia's FDI screening framework, established under Act No. 497/2022 (the FDI Act) effective 1 March 2023, remains operative, with the volume of screening applications expected to hold steady relative to prior years given continued uncertainty over economic growth. A planned amendment to the FDI Act is anticipated to align the legislation with practical experience and with the forthcoming revision of the EU FDI Screening Regulation, though the adoption timeline remains unconfirmed.

White & Case LLP · 2026-04-01

The industrial sector continues to attract greenfield automotive investment: Volvo is identified as the fifth major carmaker to establish operations in Slovakia, targeting production launch in late 2026 or 2027, which is expected to provide a measurable boost to export capacity. Raiffeisen Bank International analysis similarly notes the arrival of a fourth car manufacturer in 2026 as a structural positive for the industrial investment pipeline.

The Slovak Spectator / Raiffeisen Bank International · 2026-01-13

Investment sentiment remains constrained by global uncertainty, with the Slovak Ministry of Finance's budgetary plan noting that investment activity in 2026 will be supported primarily by peak absorption of EU Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) funds rather than private-sector-led capital formation. The OECD concurs that accelerated EU fund absorption will support investment against headwinds created by heightened economic uncertainty and fiscal consolidation.

Slovak Ministry of Finance / OECD Economic Outlook Vol. 2025 Issue 2 · 2026-05-22

The European Commission's Spring 2026 forecast flags Slovakia's high exposure to direct and indirect tariff effects through its automotive sector, noting that export activity contracted in H2 2025 following US tariff implementation and that trade is expected to remain subdued through 2026 before a partial rebound in 2027 contingent on new automotive plant launches. Net exports are projected to contribute negatively to growth in 2025, with only a gradual recovery thereafter as foreign demand improves.

European Commission – Economic Forecast for Slovakia · 2026-05-22

The OECD Economic Outlook (Volume 2025, Issue 2) projects Slovak trade will remain sluggish as tariffs suppress foreign demand, with weaker demand for transport equipment in Europe and globally weighing on sectoral output. Trade is expected to increase in 2027 as new automotive plants become operational, providing a deferred but identifiable catalyst for export recovery.

OECD Economic Outlook, Volume 2025 Issue 2 · 2026-05-22

Slovakia's 2026 Draft Budgetary Plan projects that stabilization of trade relations in 2026–2027 may reduce uncertainty and support exporters, with GDP growth of 1.3% forecast for 2026 as export activity gradually recovers and RRP fund utilization reaches its peak. The Slovak Ministry of Finance acknowledges that the strength of foreign demand recovery is closely tied to the trajectory of the German economy, Slovakia's principal trading partner.

Slovak Ministry of Finance – Draft Budgetary Plan 2026 · 2025-10-10

The European Commission projects Slovak real GDP growth at 1.0% for 2026, with private consumption growth continuing to slow due to fiscal consolidation and public investment remaining the primary growth support, underpinned by EU fund deployment and defence procurement. The public deficit is projected at 4.6% of GDP in 2026, with the debt-to-GDP ratio forecast to rise to 64.0%, reflecting structurally elevated deficits and subdued nominal growth.

European Commission – Economic Forecast for Slovakia · 2026-05-22

Inflation is projected to remain elevated at 4.1–4.2% in 2026 according to the European Commission, driven by accelerating energy prices as price ceiling mechanisms are partially withdrawn, strong services price pressures, and the pass-through of prior VAT increases. The OECD projects headline inflation at 3.7% in 2026 before moderating to 2.5% in 2027, with gas and electricity price caps renewed for 2026 covering approximately 90% of households.

European Commission / OECD Economic Outlook Vol. 2025 Issue 2 · 2026-05-22

Allianz Trade analysis characterizes Slovakia's recovery as sluggish, with real GDP expected to expand at approximately 1.4% in 2026, constrained by a weak external environment and fiscal consolidation drag. Public debt, which breached the 60%-of-GDP threshold in 2025, is projected to continue rising through the forecast horizon, reflecting structurally high deficits and limited fiscal space.

Allianz Trade – Slovakia Country Report · 2026-05-22

Slovakia's third fiscal consolidation package, approved by Parliament in September 2025 and effective from 1 January 2026, introduces wide-ranging changes to labour law, social and health insurance contributions, and income taxation that directly affect employer cost structures. Key measures include an increase in the minimum social insurance assessment base, extension of employer-funded sick pay from 10 to 14 calendar days, higher health insurance contributions, and a more progressive personal income tax schedule.

Grant Thornton Slovakia / Accace · 2025-10-08

A new Act on Sales Records (Act No. 384/2025 Coll.), effective 1 January 2026, abolishes most prior exemptions and requires nearly all sellers—including craftsmen, landlords, and service providers—to record transactions in real time via the eKasa electronic cash register system, with mandatory acceptance of cashless payments for sales exceeding €1 operative from March 2026. Non-compliance carries significantly higher penalties, including potential cancellation of a business licence for repeated or serious offences.

Fiscal Solutions · 2025-12-23

The voluntary phase of Slovakia's mandatory e-invoicing framework launched in May 2026, with full mandatory compliance for all VAT payers via the Peppol network scheduled for 1 January 2027; digital reporting of e-invoice data to the Slovak Financial Administration is expected to become available in Q3 2026. From 1 July 2030, the mandate will expand to cross-border transactions in alignment with the EU's VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) legislation.

Grant Thornton Slovakia / Thomson Reuters (Pagero) · 2026-05-22