According to our experts, the economic component of the 4-year program of government actions put forward by Prime Minister Igor Matovič, which was promulgated on April 20, 2020, is contradictory (in particular, regarding interagency cooperation), does not contain details of measures aimed at implementation of formulated commitments and data regarding the financial support of achieving the declared goals.
At present, the possible deficit of the state budget of the Slovak Republic on the results of 2020 is estimated at 9% of GDP, and the growth of external public debt is possible at the level of up to 60% of GDP. The economic recovery at the level of 2019 is expected in the medium term.

The economic crisis in Slovakia, which is developing against the backdrop of the recession of the world economy, is significantly complicated by restrictive measures on business activity in the country, which the government of Slovakia has been introducing since March 16, 2020 to counter the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Given that Slovakia was in a crisis period during the regular parliamentary elections held on February 29, 2020, with further formation of the new government on March 18, 2020, implementation of measures to respond to the economic component of the crisis took place only in the second half of April.

In March – April 2020, there were several almost overlapping events that are extremely important for the Russian economy. The fact that they almost coincided slightly blurs their effect and makes it difficult to analyze the causes and probable implications.
Many economic entities have not yet realized what awaits them. Many hope that “pseudo-quarantine” will be lifted and the situation will quickly normalize.
This is not true. A new, and very harsh reality is beginning for the Russian economy. The budget will have to be cut significantly and the national currency will have to be devalued. Citizens expect a significant drop in welfare, and business awaits reduction.

The outcome of the US presidential election in 2020 will determine not only the future energy policy of the United States, but will also have a significant impact on global energy, as well as on international policy in trade, climate protection and interstate relations.
Based on the analysis of the research of the Atlantic Council, an influential think tank, we can identify two plausible scenarios for the development of American energy and climate policy after the presidential election in November 2020. The main conclusion of experts is that a period of uncertainty regarding the future development strategy awaits American investors and owners of energy assets, and any of the election results will lead to significant changes in the domestic energy market and will affect the global competitive position of the United States.

With the economic slowdown, the Slovak government is focusing its efforts on combating the spread of the COVID-19 virus among the population to ensure the resumption of production and business activity in the country since mid-May 2020.
At present, the possible losses of the Slovak economy over the two months of quarantine measures are estimated at 5% of GDP or at least EUR 4 billion.

“The reaction of the oil market and the ruble exchange rate that has already taken place allows us to conclude that Russia’s GDP in 2020 will fall by 1.5-2%, and inflation will rise to 10-15%” – believes Sergey Khestanov, Russian economist, associate professor of ‘The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration‘, macroeconomic adviser to the general director of the Moscow investment company ‘Otkrytie Broker’.

The newly appointed European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, addressed the members of the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and presented the basic principles of energy policy and work plans for 2020.
The Directorate-General for Energy (DG Ener), which she heads, is focused on the launch of a mechanism for a fair energy transition. The key task will be to assist in the preparation of national plans and monitor the progress of their implementation, coordinate the interaction of all available financial programs and assistance instruments for the rapid implementation of ambitious decarbonisation plans.

On March 2, 2020, a closed expert meeting called “Increasing Renewable Energy in Central Europe”, organized by the British Government and the COP26 Organizing Committee, was held at the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Vienna, Austria, at the level of representatives of the governments of Central and Eastern Europe, and was aimed at discussing aspects of closure of coal industries of Central and Eastern Europe within the framework of “energy transition”.

Sergey Khestanov – Russian economist, associate professor of ‘The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration’, macroeconomic adviser to the general director of the Moscow investment company ‘Otkrytie Broker’, believes that at the end of 2019 – the beginning of 2020 important factor that influences the economic cycle is powerfully manifested: the election campaign in the United States began. The current US president, D. Trump, is actively demonstrating a desire to be re-elected.