- the extension by the Member States and the Slovak Republic of agreements for the promotion and protection of investment,
- to implement suitable arrangements for the transfer of capital,
- to proceed with deregulation and to improve economic infrastructure,
- to exchange information on investment opportunities in the form of trade fairs, exhibitions, trade weeks and other events.
Article 75. Industrial Standards and Conformity Assessment
1. The Parties shall cooperate with the aim to achieve the Slovak Republic's full conformity with Community technical regulations and European standardization and conformity assessment procedures.
2. To this end, the cooperation shall seek:
- to promote the use of Community technical regulations and European standards and conformity assessment procedures,
- where appropriate, to achieve the conclusion of agreements on mutual recognition in these fields,
- to encourage the Slovak Republic's participation in the work of specialized organizations (CEN, Cenelec, ETSI, EOTC).
3. The Community will provide the Slovak Republic with technical assistance where appropriate.
Article 76. Cooperation In Science and Technology
1. The Parties shall promote cooperation in research and technological development. They shall devote special attention to the following:
- the exchange of information on each other's science and technology policies,
- the organization of joint scientific meetings (seminars and workshops),
- joint R& D activities aimed at encouraging scientific progress and the transfer of technology and know-how,
- training activities and mobility programmes for researchers and specialists from both sides,
- the development of an environment conducive to research and the application of new technologies and adequate protection of the intellectual property of the results of research,
- participation of the Slovak Republic in the Community programmes in accordance with paragraph 3.
Technical assistance shall be provided where appropriate.
2. The Association Council shall determine the appropriate procedures for developing cooperation.
3. Cooperation under the Community's framework programme in the field of research and technological development shall be implemented according to specific arrangements to be negotiated and concluded in accordance with the legal procedures of each Party.
Article 77. Education and Training
1. The Parties shall cooperate with the aim of raising the level of general education and professional qualifications in the Slovak Republic, taking into consideration the priorities of the Slovak Republic. Institutional frameworks and plans of cooperation will be established building on the European Training Foundation and the Tempus programme. Participation of the Slovak Republic in other Community programmes could also be considered in this context.
2. The cooperation shall focus in particular on the following areas and according to modalities to be determined jointly by the Parties:
- reform of the education and training system in the Slovak Republic,
- initial training, in-service training and retraining, including the training of public and private sector executives and senior civil servants, particularly in priority areas to be determined,
- cooperation between universities, cooperation between universities and firms, and mobility for teachers, students, administrators and young people,
- promoting teaching in the field of European studies within the appropriate institutions,
- mutual recognition of periods of studies and diplomas.
3. In the field of translation, cooperation will focus on training of translators and interpreters and promotion of Community linguistic norms and terminology.
Article 78. Agriculture and the Agro-industrial Sector
1. Cooperation in this area shall have as its aim the modernization of agriculture and the agro-industrial sector. It shall endeavour in particular to:
- develop private farms and distribution channels, methods of storage, marketing, etc.,
- modernize the rural infrastructure (transport, water supply, telecommunications),
- land-use planning, including construction and urban planning,
- improve productivity and quality by using appropriate methods and products; provide training and monitoring in the use of anti-pollution methods connected with inputs,
- develop and modernize processing firms and their marketing techniques,
- promote complementarity in agriculture,
- promote industrial cooperation in agriculture and the exchange of know-how, particularly between the private sectors in the Community and the Slovak Republic,
- develop cooperation on animal health and plant health with the aim of bringing about gradual harmonization with Community standards through assistance for training and the organization of checks.
2. To these ends, technical assistance shall be provided by the Community as appropriate.
Article 79. Energy
1. Within the principles of the market economy, the Parites shall cooperate to develop the progressive integration of the energy markets of the Slovak Republic and the Community. They shall pay particular attention to the Community's proposals for a European energy charter and the parallel integration of such markets with the other countries of central and eastern Europe.
2. The cooperation shall include among others technical assistance when appropriate in the following areas:
- formulation and planning of energy policy both at national and regional level,
- opening up the energy market to a greater degree, including facilitating transit of gas and electricity,
- study of the modernization of energy infrastructures,
- improvement of distribution as well as improvement and diversification of supply,
- management and training for the energy sector,
- the development of energy resources,
- the promotion of energy saving and energy efficiency,
- the environmental impact of energy production and consumption,
- the nuclear energy sector,
- the electricity and gas sectors, including the consideration of the possibility of the interconnection of the supply networks,
- the formulation of framework conditions for cooperation between undertakings in this sector, which could include the encouragement of joint ventures,
- the transfer of technology and know-how, which may include if appropriate the promotion and commercialization of efficient energy technologies.
Article 80. Nuclear Safety
1. The aim of cooperation is to provide for a safer use of nuclear energy.
2. Cooperation shall mainly cover the followings topics:
- nuclear safety, nuclear emergency preparedness and management,
- radiation protection, including environmental radiation monitoring,
- fuel cycle problems, safeguarding of nuclear materials,
- radioactive waste management,
- decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear installations,
- decontamination.
3. Cooperation will include exchange of information and experience and R& D activities in accordance with Article 76.
Article 81. Environment
1. The Parties shall develop and strengthen their cooperation on environment and human health, which they have judged to be a priority.
2. Cooperation shall concern:
- effective monitoring of pollution levels; systems of information on the state of the environment,
- combating regional and transboundary air pollution,
- sustainable, efficient and environmentally effective use and production of energy; safety of industrial plants; development of relevant technologies and production processes,
- classification and safe handling of chemicals,
- effective prevention and reduction of water pollution, especially of sources of drinking water and transboundary watercourses,
- waste reduction, recycling and safe disposal (including radioactive wastes),
- the environmental impact of agriculture; soil erosion; the protection of forests and flora and fauna; restoring ecological stability of the countryside,
- land-use planning, including construction and urban planning,
- use of economic and fiscal instruments,
- global climate change and its prevention,
- environmental education and awareness,
- international conventions in the area of environment.
3. Cooperation shall take place through:
- exchange of information and experts, including information and experts dealing with the transfer of clean technologies; development of information systems on environment,
- training programmes,
- joint research activities,
- approximation of laws (Community standards),
- cooperation at regional level (including cooperation within the framework of the European Environment Agency, when established by the Community) and at international level,
- development of strategies, particularly with regard to global and climatic issues.
Article 82. Transport
1. The Parties shall develop and step up cooperation in order to enable the Slovak Republic to:
- restructure and modernize transport,
- improve circulation of passengers and goods and the access to the transport market by removing administrative, technical and other obstacles,
- facilitate Community transit in the Slovak Republic by road, rail, river and combined transport,
- achieve operating standards comparable to those in the Community.
2. The cooperation shall include the following in particular:
- economic, legal and technical training programmes,
- the provision of technical assistance and advice, and the exchange of information,
- the provision of means to develop infrastructure in the Slovak Republic.
3. The cooperation shall include the following priority areas:
- the construction and modernization of road transport, including the gradual easing of transit conditions,
- the management of railways and airports, including cooperation between the appropriate national authorities,
- the modernization, on major routes of common interest and trans-European links, of road, inland waterway, railway, port and airport infrastructure,
- land-use planning including construction and urban planning,
- the promotion of road-rail transport containerization, transhipment and the construction of terminals,
- the replacement of transport technical equipment in order to meet Community standards,
- the promotion of joint technological and research programmes in accordance with Article 76,
- the development of legislative measures and the implementation of policies in all areas of transportation, compatible with the transport policies applicable in the Community.
Article 83. Telecommunications
1. The Parties shall expand and strengthen cooperation in this area, and shall to this end initiate in particular the following actions:
- exchange information on telecommunications policies,
- exchange technical and other information and organize seminars, workshops and conferences for experts of both sides,
- conduct training and advisory operations,
- carry out transfers of technology,
- have the appropriate bodies from both sides carry out joint projects,
- promote European standards, systems of certification and regulatory approaches,
- promote new communications, services and facilities, particularly those with commercial applications.
2. These activities shall focus on the following priority areas:
- the modernization of the Slovak Republic's telecommunications network and its integration into European and world networks,
- cooperation within the structures of European standardization,
- the integration of trans-European systems; the legal and regulatory aspects of telecommunications,
- the management of telecommunications in the new economic environment: organizational structures, strategy and planning, purchasing principles,
- land-use planning, construction and urban planning.
Article 84. Banking, Insurance, other Financial Services and Audit Cooperation
1. The Parties shall cooperate with aim of establishing and developing a suitable framework for the encouragement of banking, insurance and financial services sector in the Slovak Republic.
(a) The cooperation shall focus on:
- the adoption of a common accounting system compatible with European standards,
- the strengthening and restructuring of the banking and financial sectors,
- the improvement of supervision and regulation of banking and financial services,
- the preparation of translations of Community and Slovak Republic legislation,
- the preparation of glossaries of terminology,
- the exchange of information in particular in respect of proposed legislation.
(b) To this end, the cooperation shall include the provision of technical assistance and training.
2. The Parties shall cooperate with aim of developing efficient audit systems in the Slovak Republic following standard Community methods and proceedings.
(a) Cooperation shall focus on:
- the establishment in the Slovak Republic of an independent Supreme Audi Office,
- the establishment of internal audit units in government agencies,
- the exchange of relevant audit information,
- the uniformization of audit documentation,
(b) To this end, technical assistance shall be provided by the Community as appropriate.
Article 85
Monetary policy
At the request of the Slovak Republic authorities, the Community shall provide technical assistance designed to support the efforts of the Slovak Republic towards the introduction of full convertibility of the crown and the gradual approximation of its policies to those of the European Monetary System. This will include informal exchange of information concerning the principles and the functioning of the European Monetary System.
Article 86
Money laundering
1. The Parties agree on the necessity of making every effort and cooperating in order to prevent the use of their financial systems for laundering of proceeds from criminal activities in general and drug offences in particular.
2. Cooperation in this area shall include administrative and technical assistance with the purpose of establishing suitable standards against money laundering equivalent to those adopted by the community and international fora in this field, in particular the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Article 87
Regional development
(b) To this end, technical assistance shall be provided by the Community as appropriate.