Additionally, foreign trade and investment sometimes results in negative environmental impacts. For example, Austrians promoted a deal to accept hazardous waste in return for financing a waste incinerator in Bratislava. Already, or very soon the economic sector will be the most important driving force. Restructuring of the economic system, privatization and change of ownership, western investment and the adoption of western technologies will directly affect the environment in both positive and negative ways. In general, western technology provides benefits to the environment, while short term profit ideology tends to negatively impact the environment.
Economic instruments are scarcely a driving force, at least at present.
Positive driving forces towards environmental preservation and improvement in Slovakia include, the activities of environmental movements and volunteers, the work of experts, scientific research, and positive pressure through diplomatic channels. The privatization law has not included environmental aspects and there are no clear regulations about who is responsible for the liability. Environmental auditing is not obligatory. In the long-term it can be positive if the new owners accept environmental obligations. But as environmental protection is not inherent in a free market system it should be supported by countering measures.