Sep 1, 2025
New FSF analysis in Demokratický střed: Migration, energy shock, and defense boom are reshaping the country’s future
The Future Slovakia Forum has published an in-depth analysis in cooperation with the Czech outlet Demokratický střed. The article by Dávid Bořuta examines how Russia’s war against Ukraine has exposed Slovakia’s economic vulnerabilities - cheap energy, weak infrastructure, demographic decline - while at the same time creating unprecedented opportunities.
Key themes include:
The migration wave as both a strain and a structural chance to stabilize the labor market.
The energy shock that ended dependency on Russian gas but forced industry onto a new trajectory.
The defense sector’s tenfold export growth, emerging as a possible “second pillar” of Slovak exports.
Risks of political isolation if Bratislava undermines Western unity while partners move ahead.
The piece concludes that the decade 2025 - 2034 will be decisive in determining whether Slovakia uses Ukraine’s reconstruction and EU opportunities to transform its economy - or drifts to the periphery of Central Europe.
This article was produced as part of the project Reflections of the War in Ukraine in Visegrad Countries. The project is co-financed by the governments of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from the International Visegrad Fund. The Fund’s mission is to support ideas of sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.
Read the full article in English here ⬇️