Effects and motivation of political - economic cooperation between two countries: a case study of Slovakia and Austria

Abstract

The political and economic relations between Slovakia and Austria reflect the geographical situation in Central Europe, the change in the political climate after 1989 and, finally, the establishment of the Slovak Republic and its successful efforts to join Euro-Atlantic structures and the European Union. Subsequently, entry into the Schengen area and the European Monetary Union. We focus on some aspects of mutual cooperation between two long-standing neighboring states from the point of view of the theoretical basis of international political and economic cooperation. The aim of the case study is to analyze the successes of international cooperation between Austria and Slovakia, to identify open issues in bilateral relations between Slovakia and Austria, and to predict trends in the coming period. The ambition of this study is also to highlight areas that can be considered key to bilateral cooperation. International cooperation is a very broad field in which general and specific scientific methods can be used. Given the type of study, we decided to use selected general scientific methods, which we adapted to the specifics of examining economic relations between countries. Based on the results, we can say that the possibilities of economic cooperation between Austria and Slovakia are far from exhausted. Joint projects in the field of transport and energy infrastructure, energy security and diversification of energy sources are several examples where cooperation lasts for several years and has a perspective for the future. The increase in cooperation is in the field of foreign trade, in the field of foreign investment, but also in the growing level of services, including the increase in cooperation in the field of tourism. Since its inception, Slovakia has become an important trading partner of Austria, with trade with Austria catching up with trade Slovakia with traditional partners -with neighbors (Poland, Hungary).

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