International Relations
At the international level, Národná banka Slovenska (NBS) focuses on integration and cooperation within European structures. Since Slovakia acceded to the European Union (EU) on 1 May 2004, NBS has been a member of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and the NBS Governor has been a member of the General Council of the European Central Bank (ECB). On 1 January 2009, when the common European currency was introduced in the Slovak Republic, NBS automatically became part of the Eurosystem, and the NBS Governor took up a seat on the ECB Governing Council. Národná banka Slovenska can also contribute indirectly to the decision-making processes of EU bodies, through its participation in selected committees and working groups of the EU Council and the European Commission, as well as in the Committee for EU affairs, based in Slovakia.
As the authority responsible for integrated financial market supervision in Slovakia, Národná banka Slovenska participates in activities of the European System of Financial Supervision (ESFS), the EU supervisory framework that came into operation as of 1 January 2011 with the establishment of new authorities responsible for macro-prudential and micro-prudential oversight. The European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) exercises macro-prudential supervision, and meetings of the ESRB's General Board will be attended by the NBS Governor. At the micro-prudential level, NBS is engaged in the work of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the European Banking Authority (EBA), and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA). These European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) replaced the so-called three Level 3 Committees (CEIOPS, CEBS, CESR) as of 1 January 2011.
Národná banka Slovenska plays an active role in numerous international economic, financial and other institutions. The NBS Governor serves as the Governor representing the Slovak Republic at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and as the Alternate Governor for the Slovak Republic in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The NBS Deputy Governor acts as Slovakia's Alternate Governor at the World Bank. Národná banka Slovenska is also a member of international institutions focused on cooperation in financial market supervision (BIS, IOPS, IOSCO, IAIS) and it is actively engaged in the work of other international organisations, such as the OECD.
In addition, Národná banka Slovenska provides technical assistance both on a bilateral basis, and as part of regional projects organised by the ECB in cooperation with national central banks.