While it has achieved this goal, it has done so at the expense of low interest rates. With a government fiscal policy that has been expansionary for the past eighteen months, the NBS has struggled to meet its primary goals and yet maintain some growth. Slovakia was not among the former east bloc countries to be invited to join the EU and NATO during the first round. Concerns about disturbing trends in Slovakia's democracy were cited by both organizations. Declining livestock production is represented mainly by pork, beef, poultry, milk and egg production.
Unemployment is a problem.
Privatization of small and retail enterprises is complete, but this sector is suffering from the consequences of high interest rates, a pro-large enterprise government policy, increased corruption and organized crime, and an unhealthy banking sector. The first wave of large privatization is also essentially complete. We anticipate that when it comes, privatization in these sectors will move quickly. This, of course, is not an officially acknowledged policy. Many potential foreign investors seem deterred by lukewarm business and government interest, as well as political uncertainty.