President of the Slovak Republic on Working Visit to the Republic of Austria

President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gašparovič visited the Republic of Austria today. Upon his arrival in Vienna, the President of the Slovak Republic and his entourage were welcomed by President of the Republic of Austria Heinz Fischer and his wife in Hofburg, the seat of the Austrian Federal President. Then President Ivan Gašparovič held a plenary meeting with the Austrian head of state. The partners covered some topical themes regarding successfully developing Slovak – Austrian bilateral relations, including economic relations, as Austria permanently belongs to the most important economic partners of the Slovak Republic. President Ivan Gašparovič acknowledged the progressing development of infrastructure projects, and highlighted the continuing interest of Slovakia in a speeded-up advance of Austria in building the highway connection Jarovce – Kittsee – Vienna. The Austrian and Slovak Presidents also talked about the ratification procedure of the European Constitutional Treaty, expressing concurring opinions of the parliamentary ratification form in both states. President Ivan Gašparovič asked President Heinz Fischer to reassess the transitional period for the free movement of labour force. The Austrian President expressed a sceptic standpoint to this issue because of the structure of the Austrian Government, in spite of the fact that one year after Slovakia’s accession to the EU the apprehensions of massive flood of Slovak people to Austria were left unfulfilled.

Within his working visit to Austria, President Ivan Gašparovič met today also Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, and Speaker of the National Council of the Republic of Austria Andreas Khol.