Relations between Switzerland and Slovakia are close, especially at the civil society level. Some 13,000 refugees from Czechoslovakia were taken in by Switzerland after the Prague Spring of 1968. Slovakia was one of the recipient countries of Switzerland's contribution to the enlarged EU.
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Slovakia
Key aspects of diplomatic relations
The two countries maintain close diplomatic relations, which have been stepped up in recent years through frequent diplomatic visits. Two presidential-level meetings took place in 2016 alone: the then President of the Swiss Confederation, Johann Schneider-Ammann, visited Bratislava in June, and the President of Slovakia, Andrej Kiska, visited Bern in October. Over the last decade, one of the priorities of bilateral relations has been close cooperation in the framework of Switzerland's contribution to the enlarged EU. Switzerland and Slovakia also work closely together within the framework of international bodies.
Economic cooperation
In general terms, trade between Switzerland and Slovakia is developing satisfactorily. The total volume of trade amounted around CHF 1.8 billion in 2021. About 70 Swiss companies have operations in Slovakia, employing 8,200 people.
Swiss-Slovak Chamber of Commerce
Country information, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
Cooperation in education, research and innovation
Researchers from Switzerland and Slovakia are working together on several dozen projects under Horizon 2020.
Researchers and artists from Slovakia can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists, SERI
Switzerland’s contribution to the enlarged EU
Slovakia was one of the recipients of the Swiss contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in the enlarged EU. Funds totalling CHF 67 million were allocated to 23 projects. Almost 40% of these funds went to structurally weak peripheral regions in eastern Slovakia. The country will also be among the beneficiaries of Switzerland's second contribution.
Slovak Republic – A partner country for Switzerland’s contribution to EU enlargement
Swiss nationals in Slovakia
According to the Statistics on the Swiss Abroad, 356 Swiss nationals were living in Slovakia at the end of 2021.
Statistics on the Swiss Abroad
History of bilateral relations
Some 13,000 refugees from Czechoslovakia were taken in by Switzerland after the Prague Spring of 1968.
The dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992 resulted in the creation of two new states: the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Switzerland officially recognised Slovakia on the day of its foundation, i.e. 1 January 1993.
In the 1990s, during the transitional period that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union, Slovakia was a priority country for Swiss aid to Eastern Europe. The Swiss federal government provided funds totalling CHF 50 million in support of a series of projects.
Switzerland has had an embassy in Bratislava since 1999. Slovakia's embassy in Switzerland is located in Muri, on the outskirts of Bern.