Act No 566/1992 Coll. on the National Bank of Slovakia

Chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic declares the full wording of Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 566/1992 Coll. on the National Bank of Slovakia, as amended by Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 26/1993 Coll., Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 159/1993 Coll., Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 249/1994 Coll., Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 374/1994 Coll., Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 202/1995 Coll., Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 118/1996 Coll., Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 386/1996 Coll., Act No. 348/1999 Coll., Act No. 149/2001 Coll., Act No. 602/2003 Coll., Act No. 747/2004 Coll., Act No. 519/2005 Coll., Act No. 659/2007 Coll. and Act No. 492/2009 Coll. ACT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC on the National Bank of Slovakia
PART ONE
BASIC PROVISIONS
Article 1
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia is hereby established as the independent central bank of the Slovak Republic. The National Bank of Slovakia is a member of the European System of Central Banks; the National Bank of Slovakia shall be included also in the Eurosystem as the central banking system of the euro area within the European System of Central Banks. (2) The National Bank of Slovakia is a legal person with its head office in Bratislava; it is not registered in the Commercial Register. (3) The National Bank of Slovakia shall have the authority to issue generally binding regulations within the limits prescribed by this Act or a separate Act.1 Generally binding regulations of the National Bank of Slovakia shall be promulgated in the Collection of Acts of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as the “Collection of Acts”). The National Bank of Slovakia shall perform proceedings and issue decisions if so stipulated by this Act or a separate Act.1 (4) With regard to legal relations involving rights of ownership, the position of the National Bank of Slovakia in handling its own property shall be the same as that of a private company.

1 For example, Act No. 747/2004 Coll. on supervision of the financial market and on amendments to certain acts, as amended; Act No. 659/2007 Coll. on the introduction of the euro currency in the Slovak Republic and on amendments to certain acts, as amended; Act No. 492/2009 Coll. on payment services and on amendments to certain acts, as amended..

Article 2
(1) The primary objective of the National Bank of Slovakia shall be to maintain price stability. To this end, the National Bank of Slovakia shall:
a) participate in the common monetary policy which the European Central Bank sets for the euro area (hereinafter the "common European monetary policy"); b) issue euro banknotes and euro coins in accordance with the separate legal provisions applied in the euro area for the issuance of euro banknotes and coins,1aa c) support smooth and cost-effective functioning of payment services, control, coordinate and facilitate the money circulation to the extent provided for in this Act and the separate regulations;1a); d) maintain foreign reserve assets, use these reserve assets, and conduct foreign exchange operations; it shall, in conducting operations within the Eurosystem, proceed in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable to Eurosystem operations,1ab e) perform other activities pursuant to this Act and separate Acts.1 (2) With a view to accomplishing its primary objective pursuant to paragraph 1, the National Bank of Slovakia shall also perform authority, activities, tasks, rights and obligations following from the participation and objectives1ac in the European System of Central Banks1ad where the National Bank of Slovakia, as a member of the European System of Central Banks, shall proceed in accordance with the rules governing the European System of Central Banks, and as a member of the Eurosystem it shall proceed also in accordance with the rules applicable to the Eurosystem.1ae (3) In the area of the financial market, the National Bank of Slovakia shall contribute to the stability of the financial system as a whole, as well as to the secure and sound functioning of the financial market for the sake of maintaining its credibility, client protection and out of respect for the rules of economic competition; whereby the National Bank of Slovakia shall perform a) financial market supervision pursuant to this Act and separate legal provisions;1b) b) other activities in the area of the financial market pursuant to this Act and separate legal provisions.1b

1a For example, Act No. 492/2009 Coll.
1aa For example, Article 128 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended (OJ EU C115 9 May 2008); Article 16 and 43 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank as amended (oj EU C 115, 9 May 2008). 1ab For example, Article 12(1), Article 14(3), Articles 17 to 24 and Article 31 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank 1ac For example, Article 127(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended.
Article 2 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central
Bank.
1ad For example, Article 123, 124, 127 to 144, 219, 271(d) and 282 to 284 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended. Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank as amended. 1ae Article 127 (1), (2), (3), (5) and (6), Article 128, 132 and 141 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended.
Article 3, 6, 9 (2), 10 (1) to 10 (3), 12 (1), 14 (3), Article 16 to 20, Article 22, 23, 26 (3), 27, 30 to 34, 43 and 49
of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank as amended. 1b Act No. 747/2004 Coll., as amended. Act No. 483/2001 Coll. on banks and on amendments to certain acts; as amended. Act of the Slovak National Council No. 310/1992 Coll. on home savings, as amended.

Article 3
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia shall publish information and reports of the European Central Bank on the activities of the European System of Central Banks and on the common European monetary policy, and in doing so it shall proceed in accordance with the rules applicable to the European System of Central Banks. (2) The National Bank of Slovakia shall submit and publish reports on the condition and development of the financial market in accordance with a separate legal provision.1c
Article 4
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia, with the authorization of the Government of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as "the Government"), shall represent the Slovak Republic in international institutions in the area of the financial market and ensure the fulfilment of tasks arising from such representation. (2) The National Bank of Slovakia may represent the Slovak Republic in operations on international financial markets (3) In performing supervision of the financial market pursuant to a separate legal provision,1d the National Bank of Slovakia shall perform tasks in the area of international cooperation. (4) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be without prejudice to the functions and powers of the European Central Bank and other institutions and bodies of the European Union at international level.1ca

Act No. 566/2001 Coll. on securities and investment services and on amendments to certain acts (Securities Act), as amended. Act No. 530/1990 Coll. on bonds, as amended. Act No. 429/2002 Coll. on the stock exchange, as amended. Act No. 594/2003 Coll. on collective investment and on amendments to certain acts, as amended. Act No. 8/2008 Coll. on insurance and on amendments to certain acts; as amended. Act No. 381/2001 Coll. on compulsory contractual motor third-party liability insurance on amendments to certain acts; as amended. Act No. 43/2004 Coll. on retirement pension savings and on amendments to certain acts, as amended. Act No. 650/2004 Coll. on supplementary retirement pension savings and on amendments to certain acts, as amended. Act No. 186/2009 Coll. on financial intermediation and financial counselling and on amendments to certain acts; as amended. Act No. 266/2005 Coll. on consumer protection in distance financial services and on amendments to certain acts; as amended.
Article 22 of the Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 118/1996 Coll. on protection of
deposits, as amended.
Articles 63 to 87 of Act No. 492/2009 Coll.;
Articles 18. (2) and (5) and Articles 29 (3) to (5) of Act No. 297/2008 on protection against the laundering of proceeds from criminal activity and the financing of terrorism on amendments to certain acts.” 1c Act No. 747/2004 Coll. as amended. 1d Article 4 (3) of Act No. 747/2004 Coll. 1ca For example, Article 138, 219, Articles 288 to 299 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended, Article 6(1) and (2), Article 21(2), Article 23, Article 31, Article 34 and Article 42(3) and (6) of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank.

PART TWO
BODIES AND ORGANISATION
OF THE NATIONAL BANK OF SLOVAKIA
Article 5 - cancelled with effect from 1 January 2006
The Bank Board of the National Bank of Slovakia
Article 6
(1) The Bank Board of the National Bank of Slovakia (hereinafter referred to as the "Bank Board") is the supreme governing body of the National Bank of Slovakia. The Bank Board shall determine a) procedural principles followed by the National Bank of Slovakia and its organizational units when implementing the common European monetary policy in accordance with the rules applicable to the common European monetary policy,1cb b) principles of conduct and the organisation of supervision of the financial market and in supervisory matters delegated to the National Bank of Slovakia decide in the scope and manner pursuant to a separate regulation.1c (2) Furthermore, the Bank Board shall in particular:
a) set guiding principles for the activities and operations of the National Bank of Slovakia; b) approve the budget of the National Bank of Slovakia, financial statements of the National Bank of Slovakia, annual results of operations and annual reports of the National Bank of Slovakia, decide on the use of profits or settlement of losses of the National Bank of Slovakia, and set the types of funds of the National Bank of Slovakia, their level and application; c) set up the organizational structure of the National Bank of Slovakia; d) pursuant to a separate regulation,1e set the amount of annual contributions of supervised entities in the financial market; e) decide on the procedure followed by the National Bank of Slovakia and its organizational units when issuing euro banknotes and euro coins, including commemorative euro coins and collector euro coins, in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable in the euro area for the issuing of euro banknotes and euro coins,1aa) f) set the salary and other emoluments of the Governor, Vice-Governors and other Bank Board members; g) decide on the performance of activities entrusted to the National Bank of Slovakia under this Act and separate Acts;1 h) approve the rules of procedure of the Bank Board; i) set up executive coordinating and other bodies of the National Bank of Slovakia and special organizational units of the National Bank of Slovakia; j) approve generally binding regulations, issued by the National Bank of Slovakia pursuant to this Act or separate legal provisions;1 and shall approve proposals which National Bank of Slovakia presents or co-presents to the Government, k) approve draft agreements on international cooperation, inter-operation, and provision of information and documents between the National Bank of Slovakia and foreign supervisory authorities in the area of financial markets, or between the National Bank of Slovakia and

1cb For example, Guideline of the European Central Bank No. ECB/2000/7 (2000/776/ES) of 31 August 2000 on monetary policy instruments and procedures of the Eurosystem (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 01) as amended. 1e Article 40 of Act No. 747/2004 Coll. as amended.

public authorities in the Slovak Republic performing supervision and surveillance pursuant to separate legal provisions.1f l) decide on other matters reserved within or delegated to the competence of the Bank Board.1g (3) The Bank Board shall, in exercising its powers and competences under paragraphs (1) and (2), respect the rules applicable to the European System of Central Banks and also to the rules applicable to the Eurosystem.
Article 7
(1) The Bank Board shall consist of five members. The members of the Bank Board shall be the Governor, two Vice-governors and two other members. The position of a member of the Bank Board shall be considered a public office2 , which involves the provision of timeoff. (2) The Governor and the Vice-Governors shall be appointed and dismissed by the President of the Slovak Republic upon the recommendation of the Government and with approval of the National Council of the Slovak Republic; if they have not been appointed from among employees of the National Bank of Slovakia, they shall become employees of the National Bank of Slovakia on the date of their appointment. (3) Two other members of the Bank Board shall be appointed and dismissed by the Government upon the recommendation of the Governor of the National Bank of Slovakia. (4) The members of the Bank Board shall be appointed for a term of five years; the foregoing is without prejudice to the provisions of Paragraph 8. The term of office of Governors, Vice-Governors and other members of the Bank Board starts on the effective date of their appointment to their respective function. The same person can be reappointed as a member of the Bank Board, provided that the same person may be appointed as Governor for no more than two consecutive terms of office and as Vice-governor for no more than two consecutive terms of office. A member of the Bank Board may be a natural person with appropriate professional knowledge and experience in the field of monetary policy or finance, and have full legal capacity and moral integrity. Deemed as appropriate professional knowledge and experience shall be completed university education and at least five years experience in a management, scientific, or academic position in the monetary or finance areas. Deemed as a person with moral integrity shall be a natural person who has never been lawfully convicted of an intentional criminal offence; such integrity is to be proven by an extract from the criminal records register.2a (5) A member of the Bank Board shall be required to exercise his office with due professional care, in accordance with legal provisions and in line with the objectives, interests and tasks of the National Bank of Slovakia and the European System of Central Banks; in doing so, the member shall exploit and take into account the available information relating to the exercise of his powers and authority and preserve the confidentiality of the facts, the divulgence of which could jeopardize the due and efficient performance of the activities, or the objectives and interests of the National Bank of Slovakia or the European System of Central Banks. When performing his function, a member of the Bank Board must not place

1f For example, Article 87 of Act No. 483/2001 Coll. as amended, Articles 5 and 6 of Act No. 310/1992 Coll., of the National Council of the Slovak Republic as amended. 1g For example, Article 5(1)(d) of Act no. 747/2004 Coll.; Article 8(3) and (4) of Act no. 118/1996 Coll. as amended; Article 86(3) and (5) of Act no. 566/2001 Coll. as amended 2 Articles 136 (1) and 137 (1) of Act No. 311/2001 Coll., the Labour Code, as amended. 2a Act No. 311/1999 Coll. on Criminal Records Register and on Modification and Amendments to certain Acts, as amended.

his personal interests over the public interest2aa and must abstain from all acts that might be in conflict with the performance of his function as a Bank Board member. (6) Membership of the Bank Board shall be incompatible with the post of President of the Slovak Republic, Deputy of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, Member of the Government, judge, public prosecutor, and any other function, office or employment in state authorities, self-government bodies or any other public bodies, position in the management or supervisory body of a legal person incorporated for business purposes,2aa) except for exercise of the rights at a general meeting of shareholders or a members' meeting in connection with management of their own property rights. The office of a member of the Bank Board shall also be incompatible with performing entrepreneurial or other economic or income-earning activity, which may create conflict of interest. A member of the Bank Board may not perform any other function or non-income-earning activity, which may create the conflict of interest between duties of the member of the Bank Board and that function or activity. If, at the time of his appointment, a member of the Bank Board holds a position or pursues an occupation, employment, or activity that is incompatible with membership of the Bank Board, he shall be obligated to take, without delay, demonstrable legal action aimed at terminating such office, profession, employment or activity and shall be obligated without delay to give up such office, profession, employment or activity. (7) In connection with the performance of their functions or with activities of the National Bank of Slovakia, members of the Bank Board may not seek or take instructions from state authorities, self-government bodies, any other public bodies, or any legal persons or natural persons; state authorities, self-government bodies, any other public bodies, or any legal persons or natural persons may not influence the National Bank of Slovakia or members of the Bank Board in connection with the performance of their function and the operations of the National Bank of Slovakia. The Bank Board shall not exercise influence over the governor and the governor of the National Bank of Slovakia may not seek or take instructions from the Bank Board in connection with the performance of his function in bodies of the European System of Central Banks and the European Central Bank; the same shall apply to a person acting for the Governor of the National Bank of Slovakia in these bodies. (8) The function of a member of the Bank Board shall cease a) on the day when the member’s term of office expires; however, the Governor’s term of office shall expire only on the date when the appointment of a new Governor becomes effective; b) upon resignation from the function, namely on the day of the delivery of the letter of resignation from the function of a Bank Board member, unless a later date is specified in the letter of
resignation; however, the Governor’s term of office shall expire only on the date when the appointment of a new Governor becomes effective; c) when the member is recalled from the Bank Board in cases specified in paragraph 9; d) when a member dies or is officially pronounced dead;2b e) the day of coming into effect of the appointment of the Bank Board member to another function on the Bank Board, with his prior written consent. (9) A member of the Bank Board may only be recalled from his function in the event that a member of the Bank Board no longer fulfils the conditions required for the performance

2aa Constitutional Act No. 357/2004 Coll. on the Protection of Public Interest in the Performance of Functions by Public Officials as amended by Act No 545/2005 Coll. 2b Article 7 (2) of the Civil Code, as amended. Articles 195 to 200 of the Civil Procedure Code, as amended

of his duties or if a member of the Bank Board has been guilty of serious misconduct committed in the performance of his office pursuant to separate legal provision.2ba (10) Any disputes relating to the dismissal of a member of the Bank Board from his function shall be decided by a court in proceedings pursuant to a separate Act2c, whereby the decision on preliminary question in the proceeding is made in accordance with separate legal provision;2d however the disputes involving removing the governor from office shall be resolved by the European Court of Justice pursuant to separate legal provision.2e Unless separate legal provision stipulates otherwise,2ba action for court proceeding on invalidity of dismissal of a member of the Bank Board from his office needs to be filed with a court within the period of two months from the date of delivery of the decision on dismissal to the respective member of the Bank Board or, if it has not been delivered, from the date when the respective member of the Bank Board has been made aware of such decision. Filing an action for invalidity of dismissal of a member of the Bank Board from his office has a suspensory effect on legal force and enforceability of the appealed decision on dismissal until either the respective court2c) or the European Court of Justice2e) resolves the dispute by legally effective decision. (11) The National Bank of Slovakia shall conclude with each member of the Bank Board a written agreement on the exercise of the office of a member of the Bank Board, the full text of which shall be approved in advance by the Bank Board. The legal relationship between the National Bank of Slovakia and a member of the Bank Board in the exercise of his office shall be governed, as appropriate, by the provisions of a mandate agreement set out under a separate legal provision,2f unless certain mutual rights, obligations and relations are otherwise stipulated by Act.2g A member of the Bank Board shall receive reimbursement of travel expenses in accordance with a separate legal provision.2h
Article 8
(1) Meetings of the Bank Board shall be chaired by the Governor, or, in his absence, by the Vice-Governor delegated by him. The Bank Board shall have a quorum, if a simple majority of appointed members of the Bank Board including the Governor or a presiding Vice-Governor delegated by him is present. The Bank Board shall adopt decisions by a majority of votes of present members of the Bank Board, unless otherwise stated in this Act. The casting vote shall rest with the presiding chairman. If the Bank Board decides on a matter from the proceedings of which a member of the Bank Board has been excluded pursuant to a separate Act2ca or if the Bank Board decides pursuant to a separate Act2ca, on a petition on prejudice exemption filed against a member of the Bank Board, this member of the Bank Board shall be excluded from the relevant Bank Board voting and shall not take part in it; his

2ba Article 14(2) of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank 2c The Civil Procedure Code, as amended. 2d Article 109(1)(c) of the Civil Procedure Code.
Article 267 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended. 2e For example, Article 14(2) of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the
European Central Bank; the Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice annexed to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended (OJ EU C 115 of 9 May 2008); the Rules of Procedure of the European Court of Justice of 19 June 1991 (OJ Special Edition Chapter 01, Volume 06) as amended. 2f Articles 566 to 576 of the Commercial Code 2g For example, Articles 4 a 5 of constitutional Act no. 357/2004 Coll 2h Article 1(2)(a) of Act no. 283/2002 Coll. on reimbursement of travel expenses. 2ca Articles 7, 14, 31 and 32 of Act No. 747/2004 Coll. as amended.

vote shall not be taken into account in deciding whether the Bank Board has a quorum, nor in voting for a decision made by the Bank Board. (2) The rules of procedure of the Bank Board may define cases where unanimous agreement of all members is required for approval of a decision, or cases when another voting majority is required. (3) A member of the Bank Board may not be represented by another member during meetings and voting of the Bank Board on the basis of a letter of proxy. (4) Bank Board meetings shall not be open to the public. Apart from its members, Bank Board meetings may be attended by a Government member authorized by the Government, persons designated in the Band Board's rules of procedure, and other persons invited by the Bank Board. The Bank Board may decide to publish the conclusions and materials from of its meetings; however, information about approved documents of meetings of the Bank Board or other body of the National Bank of Slovakia shall be published as required by this Act. (5) Rules of procedure of the Bank Board approved pursuant to Article 6 (2)(h) shall be issued by the Governor.
Article 9
(1) The Governor who acts on its behalf,2i unless the Act stipulates otherwise;2j shall represent the National Bank of Slovakia vis-á-vis third parties; when he is not present, he will be represented by a Vice-Governor delegated by him, or, if neither of the Vice-Governors is present, by another member of the Bank Board delegated by the Governor. If the function of the Governor ceases and a new Governor has not been appointed, the powers of Governor of the National Bank of Slovakia shall pass to the Vice- Governor authorised by the Bank Board; if neither of the Vice-Governors is appointed, these powers shall pass to another Bank Board member authorised by the Bank Board. (2) Urgent matters, which normally are subject to approval by the Bank Board, may be decided by the Governor together with the two Vice-Governors. A decision in this case may only be adopted when there is unanimous agreement. (3) Decisions adopted pursuant to paragraph 2 shall be discussed by the Bank Board at its next meeting.
Article 10
The tasks related to the performance of the supervision of entities in the area of the financial market shall be performed by an organisational unit set up by the Bank Board in the scope and manner pursuant to a separate legal provision1c.
Article 11 - cancelled with effect from 1 May 2001

2i For example, Article 20(1) of the Civil Code; Article 9(1), the first sentence, of the Labour Code; Article 16(2) and Article 20 (2) of the Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic no. 118/1996 Coll. as amended; Articles 93(3) and Article 95(2) of Act no. 566/2001 Coll. as amended 2j For example, Article 5(2) and Article 27(5) of the Act No. 747/2004 Coll. As amended, Article 20(2) of the Civil Code, Article 9 paragraph (1), second and third sentence and paragraphs (2) and (3) of the Labour Code.

PART THREE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT
Article 12
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia shall fulfil its tasks independently of instructions from state authorities, self-government bodies, any other public bodies and from legal persons and natural persons. (2) The Governor or a member of the Bank Board delegated by the Governor shall inform the Government of the conclusions from meetings of the Bank Board and on the adopted decisions.
Article 13
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia shall take position on such proposals submitted for consideration to the Government that concern the scope of authority of the National Bank of Slovakia, and which have not been submitted by the National Bank of Slovakia; this shall be without prejudice to the duty to consult the European Central Bank in matters of its competence under a separate legal provision.2k (2) The National Bank of Slovakia shall perform advisory functions vis-á-vis the Government in areas falling within the scope of its authority. (3) The Governor of the National Bank of Slovakia or, during his absence, a Vice￾Governor delegated by him, shall have the right to participate in meetings of the Government.
Article 14 - cancelled with effect from 1 May 2001
PART FOUR
ISSUE OF BANKNOTES AND COINS
Article 15
(1) In accordance with separate legal provisions,1aa) the National Bank of Slovakia shall have the right to issue euro banknotes and euro coins, including commemorative euro coins, which are legal tender in the euro area and in participating third countries, which are intended for circulation, and which in their denomination are used to settle monetary liabilities. In accordance with separate legal provisions,1aa) the National Bank of Slovakia has also the right to issue collector euro coins which in their denomination are legal tender only in the Slovak Republic and which are not primarily intended for circulation, they are clearly distinguished from the euro coins intended for circulation and they are marked with a denomination in the euros or euro cents which is different to the denomination of the euro coins intended for circulation. Except of issuing euro banknotes or euro coins in accordance with separate legal provisions1aa), no other legal person or natural person shall issue banknotes or coins in the Slovak Republic.

2k For example, Council Decision 98/415/EC of 29 June 1998 on the consultation of the European Central Bank by national authorities regarding draft legislative provisions (OJ Special Edition Chapter 01 Volume 01).

(2) The National Bank of Slovakia shall, by issuing euro banknotes and euro coins, proceed in accordance with separate legal provisions and decisions applicable to euro banknotes and euro coins.3
Article 16
The National Bank of Slovakia has the exclusive right in the Slovak Republic to issue commercial coins and to provide for the minting of commercial coins for commercial and collection purposes, which are not legal tender and on which the nominal value in euros, cents nor in euro cents is not given.
Article 17
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia shall, in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable to euro banknotes and euro coins3), manage in the Slovak Republic money circulation, provide for the printing of banknotes and minting of coins, ensure the administration of money in stock, ensure their protection and security, replace worn and torn banknotes and coins and ensure the storage and destruction of printing plates and minting dies, and invalid and discarded banknotes and coins. (2) The National Bank of Slovakia may provide services in the field of cash circulation for charge. (3) The National Bank of Slovakia shall perform the functions and tasks of the national counterfeit centres and the centres for the analysis, monitoring and archiving of counterfeit banknotes and coins or altered banknotes and coins, and in doing so it shall act in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable in the European Union for protection against counterfeiting of banknotes and coins.3a The National Bank of Slovakia shall send to the European Central Bank any new type of suspicious counterfeit euro banknote which corresponds to the criteria adopted by the European Central Bank.
Article 17a
(1) Within cash transactions in the Slovak Republic, it shall be prohibited to refuse to accept legal tender3b in its nominal value without lawful reason, or to condition the acceptance of legal tender by other than lawful reason or similar distortion of the circulation

For example, Article 128 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended; Articles 16 and 43 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank; Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro (OJ Special Edition
Chapter 10 Volume 01) as amended; Council Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 of 17 June 1997 on certain provisions
relating to the introduction of the euro (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 01) as amended, Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 01) as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 423/1999 of 22 February 1999 (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 01); Decision of the European Central Bank ECB/2001/15 (2001/913/EC) of 6 December 2001 on the issue of euro banknotes (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 03) as amended; Decision of the European Central Bank ECB/2003/4 (2003/205/EC) of 20 March 2003 on the denominations, specifications, reproduction, exchange and withdrawal of euro banknotes (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 03), Guideline of the European central Bank ECB/2006/10 (2006/549/EC) of 24 July 2006 on the exchange of banknotes after the irrevocable fixing of exchange rates in connection with the introduction of the euro (OJ L 215, 5 August 2006). 3a For example, Council Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 of 28 June 2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (OJ Special Edition Chapter 19 Volume 04); Act no. 300/2005 Coll. Criminal Code as amended. 3b Article 273 of Act no. 300/2005 Coll. - Criminal Code

of legal tender; this shall be without prejudice to the making of payments in a foreign currency in accordance with separate legal provisions or the right of participants in a legal relationship to agree on payments in a foreign currency. Where cash payments are made, the payer shall allow for the payee to check the banknotes and coins upon receipt for their correct number and authenticity, and the payer shall at the request of the payee sort the banknotes and coins by their denomination; this shall also apply to banknotes and coins in a foreign currency. (2) Legal persons and natural persons in the Slovak Republic shall, in regard to the making of monetary payments, accept legal tender, they may refuse legal tender and return accepted legal tender into circulation pursuant to separate legal provisions applicable in the euro area to euro banknotes and euro coins,3c and, in the extent set out in these separate legal provisions3c), pursuant to the terms laid down in this Act or in other separate legal provisions. (3) The National Bank of Slovakia, as well as banks, other credit institutions, branches of foreign banks, branches of other foreign credit institutions, foreign banks and other foreign financial institutions which conduct banking activities in the territory of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter "bank"), other executive institutions for transfers of financial funds and postal enterprises shall accept euro banknotes and euro coins in monetary payments without restricting the nominal structure or total number of accepted euro banknotes and euro coins.3d Any legal entity or natural person other than the National Bank of Slovakia and a bank may refuse to accept valid euro coins3d) even if they are collector euro coins; the foregoing shall equally apply if damaged euro banknotes or damaged euro coins are involved, the exchange of which for non-damaged euro banknotes or non-damaged euro coins in the Slovak Republic is subject to the conditions laid down in Article 17b. (4) Collector coins, commemorative coins, banknotes and coins in special issues for collector purposes, as well as banknotes and coins which have been withdrawn from circulation and have lost the status of legal tender (hereinafter "invalid banknotes and invalid coins") may be bought and sold for collector purposes at prices different from their denomination, unless the handling of euro banknotes and euro coins is stated otherwise in separate legal provisions valid for the euro banknotes and euro coins in the euro area3 .
Article 17b
(1) It shall be prohibited to knowingly damage legal tender, including their destruction or mutilation without lawful reason. (2) Mutilated, incomplete or otherwise damaged euro banknotes and euro coins shall be exchangeable for undamaged valid euro banknotes and euro coins in accordance with

3c For example, Article 128 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended; Articles 16 and 43 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank; Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro as amended; Council Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 of 17 June 1997 on certain provisions relating to the introduction of the euro, as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2595/2000 of 27 November 2000; Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 01) as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 423/1999 of 22 February 1999 (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 01), Decision of the European Central Bank ECB/2001/15 (2001/913/EC) of 6 December 2001 on the issue of euro banknotes (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 03) as amended; Decision of the European Central Bank ECB/2003/4 (2003/205/EC) of 20 March 2003 on the denominations, specifications, reproduction, exchange and withdrawal of euro banknotes (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 03). 3d Sections 10 and 11, of Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro as amended

separate legal provisions applicable in the euro area to the exchange of damaged euro banknotes and euro coins.3e Damaged euro banknotes and euro coins which are withdrawn from circulation during a specified period shall be exchangeable for valid euro banknotes and euro coins only during the specified withdrawal period and for the respective type, design or series of euro banknotes or coins. (3) Mutilated, incomplete or otherwise damaged euro banknotes and euro coins shall be exchangeable in the Slovak Republic at the National Bank of Slovakia and at banks for undamaged euro banknotes and euro coins in accordance with the rules applicable to such exchange. In exchange for euro banknotes, the National Bank of Slovakia and banks shall not provide compensation for the euro banknotes, which have been for official purposes perforated with several regular holes, or which are clearly marked with the word "VZOR" (specimen) or "SPECIMEN". An applicant who submits damaged euro banknotes or euro coins for exchange shall be required to prove his identity with an identity document; to present at the request of the National Bank of Slovakia or the bank a written explanation, signed by the same person, regarding the circumstances of the damage, and to pay the handling fee, if stipulated. Banks shall without delay deliver to the National Bank of Slovakia all damaged euro banknotes and euro coins for which they have provided compensation, along with the explanations given by the applicants regarding the circumstance of the damage, and written documents on the number and amount of compensation provided; the National Bank of Slovakia shall check the correctness of the provision of compensation and pay the bank an amount equal to the compensation correctly provided; where the bank has withdrawn damaged banknotes, coins or other similar objects on the suspicion that they have a criminal provenance, it shall also be required to notify without delay the criminal law enforcement authorities.3f (4) The National Bank of Slovakia and banks shall, on request, execute banking operations involving exchange undamaged euro banknotes and euro coins of a certain denomination for undamaged valid euro banknotes and euro coins of different or the same denominations. In such an exchange, or in an exchange of damaged euro banknotes or euro coins, the applicant shall not be entitled to claim collector coins, commemorative coins, or banknotes or coins of a certain design, type or series, including euro coins with a specific national side. (5) The National Bank of Slovakia may, in accordance with legal acts of the European Community,3g issue a generally binding legal provision laying down requirements in the Slovak Republic, applicable for establishing the authenticity of, testing and sorting euro coins and for handling euro coins not fit for circulation, establishing and quantifying the amount of compensation, and the procedure for providing compensation for damaged euro coins in
exchange for undamaged euro coins, the procedure for withdrawing damaged euro coins for which compensation have not been provided, the procedure for withdrawing counterfeit euro

3e For example, Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro as amended; Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 423/1999 of 22 February 1999; Decision of the European Central Bank ECB/2003/4 (2003/205/EC) of 20 March 2003 on the denominations, specifications, reproduction, exchange and withdrawal of euro banknotes; Commission Recommendation 2005/504/EC of 27 May 2005 concerning authentication of euro coins and handling of euro coins unfit for circulation (OJ L 184 of 15 July 2005). 3f Article 10(1) and (8) of Act no. 301/2005 Coll. – Penal Code. 3g For example, Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation, as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 423/1999 of 22 February 1999; Commission Recommendation 2005/504/EC of 27 May 2005 concerning authentication of euro coins and handling of euro coins unfit for circulation.

coins and other similar objects, and the procedure for withdrawing euro coins not fit for circulation and their submission to the National Bank of Slovakia.
Article 17c
(1) Where a competent institution or body of the European Union3e) has adopted a decision on the withdrawal of a certain denomination, type or series of euro banknotes or euro coins from circulation and set a period for their exchange, the exchange of the withdrawn euro banknotes and euro coins shall be conducted in accordance with the respective decision and other rules applicable to the exchange of the respective euro banknotes or euro coins. (2) Euro banknotes and euro coins which have been withdrawn from circulation shall be exchangeable free of charge in the Slovak Republic at the National Bank of Slovakia and at banks for the duration of the stipulated exchange period and in accordance with other exchange rules, and where the exchange is in the form of a deposit in a passbook or bank account maintained by a bank in euros, or a cash exchange for other valid euro banknotes and euro coins. For an exchange in the form of a deposit in a passbook or in a current or deposit account maintained by a bank, the deposit amount shall be credited in the full amount of the denomination of the exchanged euro banknotes and euro coins. The person requesting the exchange shall prove his identity with an identity document. The exchange of damaged euro banknotes and euro coins, which have been withdrawn from circulation for other valid euro banknotes and euro coins shall be conducted in accordance with the rules for the exchange of damaged euro banknotes and euro coins. Banks shall without delay deliver to the National Bank of Slovakia all withdrawn euro banknotes and euro coins for which they have provided compensation, along with written documents confirming the number and amount of compensation provided. The National Bank of Slovakia shall check the correctness of the provision of compensation and pay the bank an amount equal to the compensation correctly provided.
Article 17d
(1) Fabrication and use of reproductions of euro banknotes and euro coins or their parts are subject to separate legal provisions.3h Reproductions of euro banknotes and euro coins or their parts, their electronic images and any objects which are even partially similar in appearance, parameters or properties to any euro banknote or euro coin, including medals and tokens, on which are written in any grammatical form the words "euro", "cent" or "euro cent", the symbol of the euro currency "€", the alphabetical code of the euro "EUR", or which is even partially similar in appearance to the common side or any national side of a euro coin, shall not be made or used unless rules on copyright and conditions for fabrication and use of

3h For example, Council Regulation (EC) No 2182/2004 of 6 December 2004 concerning medals and tokens similar to euro coins (OJ L 373 of 21 December 2004); Decision of the European Central Bank ECB/2003/4 (2003/205/EC) of 20 March 2003 on the denominations, specifications, reproduction, exchange and withdrawal of euro banknotes; Commission Recommendation 2005/504/EC of 27 May 2005 concerning authentication of euro coins and handling of euro coins unfit for circulation (OJ L 184 of 15 July 2005); Council Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 of 28 June 2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (OJ Special Edition Chapter 19 Volume 04); European Central Bank Guideline No ECB/2003/5 (2003/205/ES) of 20 March 2003 on the enforcement of measures to counter non-compliant reproductions of euro banknotes and on the exchange and withdrawal of euro banknotes (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 04).

reproductions of euro banknotes and euro coins are fulfilled, pursuant to separate legal provisions.3h) (2) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall be without prejudice to the provisions of separate legal provisions on reproductions of other Slovak banknotes and Slovak coins.3i
Article 17e
(1) Valid banknotes and coins, banknotes and coins not issued but intended for circulation, and also, during the stipulated exchange period, invalid banknotes and invalid coins are protected against counterfeiting, alteration, unauthorized production, damaging and refusing the legal tender without any reason by a separate Act.3j (2) Where the National Bank of Slovakia, banks, and other legal or natural persons which are entrepreneurs (hereinafter "authorized entity") are presented with counterfeit banknotes and coins or altered banknotes and coins in any currency, and banknotes and coins which raise the suspicion that they have been counterfeited, altered or produced without authorization (hereinafter "counterfeit banknotes and coins"), they shall be taken away from the applicant without providing a compensation. (3) For each withdrawal, the authorized entity shall draw up a written confirmation of the circumstances of the withdrawal, one copy of which shall be given to the applicant; the withdrawn counterfeit banknotes and coins, as well as the other copy of the confirmation, shall, in the presence of the applicant, be placed in a suitable container to ensure against unauthorized manipulation. The authorized entity may request the applicant to prove his identity with an identity document and the applicant shall be required to comply with such request. Where counterfeit banknotes and coins are withdrawn by an authorized entity other than the National Bank of Slovakia, that authorized entity shall without delay deliver to the National Bank of Slovakia the container containing the counterfeit banknotes and coins, along with the confirmation of the circumstances of their withdrawal. An authorized entity, which has withdrawn counterfeit banknotes and coins, shall also without delay notify the criminal law enforcement authorities of such withdrawal.3f) (4) Where the National Bank of Slovakia, in checking delivered banknotes and coins, identifies counterfeit banknotes and coins, it shall subject them to expert analysis and produce an expert opinion to be sent without delay to the criminal law enforcement authorities.3f) The National Bank of Slovakia shall also notify this finding to the authorized entity which withdrew the counterfeit banknotes and coins and delivered them to the National Bank of Slovakia. Where the National Bank of Slovakia, in checking delivered banknotes and coins, establishes the authenticity of banknotes or coins shall also notify this finding to the authorised entity which withdrew them, and it shall without delay return the withdrawn banknotes and coins or an amount equal to their denomination, to the applicant, either directly or through the authorized person that withdrew them; the authorised entity shall also without delay notify the finding of the National Bank of Slovakia to the law enforcement authorities to which the withdrawal of the banknotes and coins was reported in accordance with Paragraph 3.

3i For example, Article 5 of the Act no. 659/2007 Coll. on introduction of euro in the Slovak Republic and on amendment to certain Acts, Decree of the National Bank of Slovakia no. 456/2001 Coll. laying down details of the conditions under which it is permitted to make and use reproductions of banknotes, commemorative banknotes, coins, commemorative coins, commercial coins and securities issued by the National Bank of Slovakia, and objects imitating their design, including their electronic images. 3j For example Articles 17, 270 to 273, and 280 of Act no. 300/2005 Coll. – Criminal Code; International Convention for the Suppression of Counterfeiting Currency and Protocol (Decree no. 15/1932 Coll.).

(5) The National Bank of Slovakia may issue a generally binding legal provision laying down the procedure to be followed by authorized persons in withdrawing counterfeit banknotes and coins or other banknotes and coins for which compensation are not to be provided, and particulars of the documents drawn up in regard to the submission and withdrawal of such banknotes and coins.
Article 17f
(1) Banknotes and coins in the Slovak Republic may be processed for other persons by the National Bank of Slovakia, banks under a banking licence3k and by processors of banknotes and coins (hereinafter "processors"). A processor shall be a business legal person whose registered office is in the Slovak Republic and which processes banknotes and coins for other persons under a licence to process banknotes and coins. (2) To process banknotes and coins shall mean to sort them by authenticity and quality, by number and denomination, and to wrap them in a suitable packaging material. The processing of euro banknotes and euro coins may be performed only if the conditions have been met in accordance with the separate rules applicable in the euro area to the processing of euro banknotes and euro coins.3h (3) The decision on issuing a licence to process banknotes and coins shall be taken by the National Bank of Slovakia on the basis of a written application. A licence to process banknotes and coins shall be issued only if the following conditions are met:
a) the processor is a legal person which under separate legal provisions is required to create share capital and:

1. the paid-up contribution to the processor's share capital is at least EUR 250,000 in value, or
2. the processor has insurance against its liability for damage with the insurance benefit per
   insurance event set at a value of at least EUR 250,000; b) the processor's other activities are restricted to providing for banks' activities in the field of cash in circulation; c) the processor's managerial employees whose duties include managing or overseeing the processing of banknotes and coins and activities related to the processing of banknotes and coins possess the appropriate professional qualification; 'appropriate professional qualification' shall mean the completion of university education and at least five years' experience in the processing of banknotes and coins or in an economic or financial field, or, alternatively, the completion of secondary education, secondary vocational education or similar education in other country, and at least seven years' experience in the processing of banknotes and coins or in an economic or financial field; d) the natural person who is the statutory body of the processor, or the natural persons who are members of the statutory body of the processor, show credibility and integrity, as do the processor's employees; a natural person shall be deemed to show credibility and integrity if he has not been validly convicted of a crime against property, a crime committed in relation to the exercise of managerial duties or other intentional crime, and this shall be proved and documented with an extract from the penal register not older than three months; in the case of a foreigner, the same is to be proved and documented with a similar confirmation issued by the competent authority of the country in which he is usually resident; e) the processor has the preparedness, equipment and capability in material-technical, organizational and personnel terms, and the suitable premises, to process banknotes and coins

3k Article 2(2)(p), Article 2(3) to (5), Article 7(1), Article 8(1) and Article 11 of Act no. 483/2001 Coll. as amended.

in a systematically professional, secure and cost-effective way and to perform activities related to the processing of banknotes and coins; f) other requirements and conditions in accordance with the rules applicable in the euro area for processing of euro banknotes and euro coins3l are met insofar as they concern the processing of euro banknotes and euro coins. (4) The conditions mentioned in paragraph (3) shall be met by the processor continuously and permanently for so long as the licence to process banknotes and coins is valid. (5) Euro banknotes received from circulation in the Slovak Republic may be used in ATM machines only if they have been processed by the National Bank of Slovakia, unless otherwise stated by separate rules applicable in the euro area for the processing of euro banknotes and euro coins.3h) Euro banknotes and euro coins received from circulation may be issued to customers by banks and processors only if these euro banknotes and euro coins have been processed and duly checked in equipment that has been tried and tested by the National Bank of Slovakia or by other central banks within the European System of Central Banks or by professionally qualified employees. A decree issued by the National Bank of Slovakia, published in the Collection of Laws, shall establish, what shall professional qualification for processing and testing of euro banknotes and coins mean, and under what conditions may the professionally qualified employees process and test euro banknotes and coins. (6) Processors and persons involved in the processing of banknotes and coins shall be subject to supervision exercised by the National Bank of Slovakia in accordance with this Act and separate legal provisions.3m Each supervised processor, the members of its bodies, its employees, and other persons whose activities are related to that processor shall allow the exercise of supervision within the scope laid down in this Act and separate legal provisions,3m) shall refrain from actions which could frustrate the exercise of supervision, and shall provide, in the state language, any information, documentation, cooperation and assistance requested within the exercise of supervision by the National Bank of Slovakia or by persons authorized to exercise supervision; in respect of supervision, the supervised processor and other supervised persons shall allow the conduct of on-site inspections for the processing of banknotes and coins and for compliance with the rules and conditions under which they are processed, and shall also allow access to the premises, equipment, and other items and documents related to the processing of banknotes and coins. (7) If the National Bank of Slovakia identifies any shortcomings in the processor's activities involving, in particular, non-compliance with, breach or evasion of any rules or conditions under which banknotes and coins are processed, or conditions or obligations arising from the licence to process banknotes and coins, or
other decisions of the National Bank of Slovakia, or the breach of any obligations relating to the exercise of supervision or the failure to allow the exercise of supervision, or non-compliance with, breach, or evasion of any provisions of this Act, legally binding acts of the European Communities and the European Union which concern the processing of banknotes and coins, separate Acts3m) or other generally binding legal provisions which concern the processor or the processing of banknotes and coins, the National Bank of Slovakia may, according to the gravity, scope, duration, consequences and nature of the identified shortcomings:

3l For example, Article 128(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended; Articles 16 and 43 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank; Article 6 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 of 28 June 2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 04). 3m For example, Articles 2, 3, 6 to 35, and 38 of Act no. 747/2004 Coll. as amended.

a) impose measures to rectify and eliminate the identified shortcomings within a specified time limit; b) require the processor to cease an unauthorized activity; c) impose a fine in the applicable currency unit up to a value of EUR 30,000, and for a repeated or serious shortcoming, up to EUR 60,000. If the identified shortcoming has brought about a material gain exceeding the value of EUR 60,000, the fine imposed may be up to the amount of that material gain; d) restrict or suspend the performance of activities or a certain activity under licence to process banknotes and coins; e) revoke the licence to process banknotes and coins. (8) Corrective measures and sanctions under paragraph (7) may be imposed simultaneously and repeatedly. Corrective measures and sanctions mentioned in paragraph (7) may be imposed within three years from when the shortcoming is identified, but not later than ten years after it arose. The fine mentioned in paragraph (7)(c) shall be payable within 30 calendar days from the valid date of the decision to impose it; the enforcement of a validly imposed fine shall be subject to separate legal provisions.3m) (9) Unless otherwise provided by this Act, the exercise of supervision, including proceedings and decision-making in matters relating to processors and the processing of banknotes and coins shall be subject to separate legal provisions3m); the organizational unit competent to exercise supervision and to conduct first-instance proceedings and decision￾making of the National Bank of Slovakia shall be specified in the Organizational Rules of the National Bank of Slovakia. First-instance decisions of the National Bank of Slovakia and authorizations to conduct an on-site inspection shall be signed by the head of that unit or by a representative authorized by him. (10) The National Bank of Slovakia shall issue a generally binding legal provision laying down detailed rules under which banks and processors may process banknotes and coins for other persons, the procedure and material-technical equipment of banks and processors for the processing of banknotes and coins, and the particulars of an application for a licence to process banknotes and coins.
Article 17g
The procedure mentioned in Article 17a to 17f shall be without prejudice to obligations under separate legal provisions3n in regard to establishing and proving the identity of customers in transactions and to protection against the laundering of proceeds from criminal activities.
Article 17h
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia shall publish the denominations, appearance, technical parameters, principal security features, and other particulars of euro banknotes and euro coins issued and intended for circulation in the euro area and in participating third countries, including the appearance of all the national sides of euro coins and commemorative euro coins, as well as the denominations, appearance, technical parameters and other particulars of collector euro coins issued by the National Bank of Slovakia; this shall be done

3n For example Article 89 of Act no. 483/2001 Coll. as amended, Act No 297/2008 Coll.. as amended; Regulation (EC) No 1781/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 on information on the payer accompanying transfers of funds (OJ L 345 of 8 December 2006).

in the scope necessary to inform the general public in the Slovak Republic about euro banknotes and euro coins and to create the conditions for distinguishing authentic euro banknotes and authentic euro coins from other similar objects, in particular, counterfeit banknotes and coins and from reproduction banknotes and coins. Such public notices on euro banknotes and euro coins shall be published by the National Bank of Slovakia in the Collection of Laws under a separate legal provision3o in the Gazette of the National Bank of Slovakia (Article 44) and on the internet site of the National Bank of Slovakia.3p (2) By means of a generally binding legal regulation, the National Bank of Slovakia shall establish values, technical parameters, appearance, and other particulars of commercial coins.
PART FIVE
TRANSACTIONS OF THE NATIONAL BANK OF SLOVAKIA
General provisions concerning transactions of the National Bank of Slovakia
Article 18
The National Bank of Slovakia may conduct with banks, foreign banks and other financial institutions all types of transactions, including financial market transactions. The National Bank of Slovakia may select its counterparties and set the terms and conditions of the transactions and other activities that it conducts; in doing so as a member of the European System of Central Banks, the National Bank of Slovakia shall proceed in accordance with separate legal provisions and rules applicable to the European System of Central Banks, and as a member of the Eurosystem, in accordance with separate legal provisions and rules applicable only to the Eurosystem.4
Article 19
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia shall in respect of all its transactions comply with the prohibition on monetary financing laid down in a separate legal provision.4a Where the National Bank of Slovakia uses its funds to finance the public sector4aa liabilities towards the International Monetary Fund,4ab all payments made by the International Monetary Fund in relation to this financing shall belong to the National Bank of Slovakia.

3o For example, Article 1(2)(d) of Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic no. 1/1993 Coll. on the Collection of Acts of the Slovak Republic as amended. 3p For example, Article 4(2) and (3) and Article 6(3) of the Act no. 211/2000 Coll. on free access to information (including amendments to certain Acts) – the Freedom of Information Act – as amended. For example, Article 12(1), Article 14(3), Articles 17 to 24, Article 31 and Article 42(1) of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank. 4a Article 123 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended. Council Regulation (EC) No 3603/93 of 13 December 1993 specifying definitions for the application of the prohibitions referred to in Articles 104 and 104b(1) of the Treaty (OJ Special Edition, Chapter 10 Volume 01) 4aa Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3603/93 (OJ Special Edition, Chapter 10 Volume 01). 4ab Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3603/93 (OJ Special Edition, Chapter 10 Volume 01).

(2) The National Bank of Slovakia shall in respect of all its transactions comply with the prohibition of privileged access to financial institutions laid down in a separate legal provision.4ac
Article 20
The National Bank of Slovakia shall in accordance with rules applicable to the Eurosystem perform activities related to the setting and maintenance of minimum reserves as defined under a separate legal provision.4ad
Article 21
The National Bank of Slovakia shall be entitled in accordance with the rules applicable to the Eurosystem, to impose and enforce sanctions related to minimum reserves, to its transactions or to other monetary policy operations as defined in separate legal provision.4ad) Operations with Banks
Article 22
The National Bank of Slovakia is entitled to trade in securities and other asset values which are defined in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable to the Eurosystem.4ae
Article 23
The National Bank of Slovakia is entitled to perform credit transactions, and credits provided by the National Bank of Slovakia shall be secured by sufficient collateral. The National Bank of Slovakia shall in respect of its transactions accept collateral in the form of securities or other asset values which are defined in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable to the Eurosystem.4ae)

4ac Article 124 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended. Council Regulation (EC) No 3604/93 of 13 December 1993 specifying definitions for the application of the prohibition of privileged access referred to in Article 104a of the Treaty (OJ Special Edition, Chapter 10 Volume 01). 4ad For example, Articles 9(2), 12(1), 14(3) and 19, 20 and 41 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank; Council Regulation (EC) No 2531/98 of 23 November 1998 concerning the application of minimum reserves by the European Central Bank (OJ Special Edition Chapter 01 Volume 03) as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 134/2002 of 22 January 2002 (OJ Special Edition Chapter 01 Volume 04); Council Regulation (EC) No 2532/98 of 23 November 1998 concerning the powers of the European Central Bank to impose sanctions (OJ Special Edition Chapter 01 Volume 03); Regulation (EC) of the European Central Bank No 1745/2003 (ECB/2003/9) of 12 September 2003 on the application of minimum reserves (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 03) 4ae For example, Articles 17 and 18 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank; European Central Bank Guideline No ECB/2000/7 (2000/776/ES) of 31 August 2000 on monetary policy instruments and procedures of the Eurosystem (OJ Special Edition Chapter 10 Volume 01) as amended.

Article 24
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia may exceptionally grant a short-term loan to a bank4af for temporary support of liquidity, provided that it is in compliance with prohibition of monetary financing; right for repayment of such a loan shall take precedence over all other liabilities of the bank.4ag Any such loan shall be secured by sufficient collateral according to
Article 23 and granting such loan shall not be made so as to advantage or disadvantage any
one bank in relation to other banks.
(2) The National Bank of Slovakia may grant a short-term loan to the Deposit Protection Fund4ah or the Investment Guarantee Fund4ai in order to cover the fund's urgent and unforeseen needs for supply of liquidity, if aspects of the systemic stability are threatened and provided that it is in compliance with the prohibition of monetary financing. Any such loan shall be sufficiently secured by sufficient collateral according to Article 23. Operations with the Slovak Republic
Article 25
(1) In the framework of its operations with the Slovak Republic, the National Bank of Slovakia may a) keep accounts of the State Treasury pursuant to a separate legal provision;4b b) provide the State Treasury with other services pursuant to a separate legal provision;4b c) cooperate with the State Treasury pursuant to a separate legal provision.4b (2) The National Bank of Slovakia may only make payments from the accounts of the State Treasury up to the amount of the aggregate credit balance on these accounts.4c
Article 26
Within the framework of its operations with the Slovak Republic, the National Bank of Slovakia may a) provide services to the Agency for Debt and Liquidity Management pursuant to a separate legal provision;4ca b) cooperate with the Agency for Debt and Liquidity Management pursuant to a separate legal provision.4ca Other Operations of the National Bank of Slovakia
Article 27
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia may issue a trade with securities; whereby there shall be proceeded in accordance with the rules applicable to the Eurosystem.

4af For example, Articles 2(1) and 61 of Act no. 483/2001 Coll. as amended. 4ag For example, Article 179(2) of Act no. 7/2005 Coll. on bankruptcy and restructuring (including modifications and amendments to certain Acts). 4ah Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic no. 118/1996 Coll. as amended. 4ai Articles 80 to 98 of Act no. 566/2001 Coll. as amended. 4b Articles 6, 11, and 12, paragraph 4, Article 19 (2), and Article 21 of Act No 291/2002 Coll. on the State Treasury System and on the Modification and Amendment to Certain Acts, as amended. 4c Article 2c (5), Articles 11 and 21 of Act No. 291/2002 Coll., as amended. 4ca Article 17, Article 19(2) and Article 21(5) of Act no. 291/2002 Coll. as amended.

(2) The National Bank of Slovakia may conclude and conduct banking operations with legal persons and render them services, including operations on the capital market, for the issuer’s account. (3) The National Bank of Slovakia shall be entitled to maintain time deposit accounts for its clients pursuant to this Act.
Article 27a
The National Bank of Slovakia may conclude and conduct banking operations with members of the Bank Board and with its employees; and the National Bank of Slovakia shall be a payment service provider if it provides payment services under the separate regulation. 4cb)
Article 27b
(1) In verifying the identity of its clients as part of its banking operations, the National Bank of Slovakia shall proceed, where appropriate, in accordance with a separate Act.4d (2) The National Bank of Slovakia is obligated to archive documents relating to banking operations conducted by the National Bank of Slovakia and documents attesting to the identity of clients involved in banking operations for a period of at least five years from the end of the year in which such banking operations were conducted.
PART SIX
JURISDICTION OF THE NATIONAL BANK OF SLOVAKIA
IN RESPECT TO FOREIGN EXCHANGE FIELD
Article 28
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia shall hold in custody and manage foreign reserve assets in gold and in foreign exchange assets, shall use these reserves, and shall conduct foreign exchange operations; when conducting operations within the Eurosystem, it shall proceed in accordance with the rules applicable to Eurosystem operations.4e (2) The National Bank of Slovakia may set and publish the foreign exchange reference rates of the euro to foreign currencies which are actively traded or otherwise used in the Slovak Republic and whose foreign exchange reference rates are not set and published by the European Central Bank.4f
Article 29
The National Bank of Slovakia:
a) shall set the conditions for regulating the balance of payments of the Slovak Republic and promulgate them by a decree, in the Collection of Acts; b) may issue securities denominated in foreign currencies;

4cb Article 2 (1) and (3)(e) of Act No. 492/2009 Coll.
4d Article 89 (1) (2) and (4) of Act No. 483/2001 Coll., as amended. 4e For example, Articles 23 and 31 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank. 4f Article 219 (1) to (3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as amended.
Article 12(1) of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European
Central Bank.

c) may coordinate and guide the execution of payment transactions with foreign countries in the Slovak Republic in accordance with the separate regulation;1a); d) may maintain foreign currency accounts for its clients pursuant to this Act.
PART SEVEN
OTHER ACTIVITIES AND EMPOWERMENTS
OF THE NATIONAL BANK OF SLOVAKIA
Article 30
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia shall submit draft legislation to the Government in the areas of money circulation. (2) The National Bank of Slovakia shall, together with the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as the “Ministry”), submit to the Government draft legislation in the area of foreign exchange relations, the payment systems and the provision of payment services and the financial market including banking and the position and competence of the National Bank of Slovakia. (3) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be without prejudice to the functions and powers of institutions and bodies of the European Union in the field of legislation, under separate legal provisions,5 nor to the duty to consult draft legislation with the European Central Bank to the extent laid down in a separate legal provision.2k)
Article 31
The National Bank of Slovakia shall gather statistical information to facilitate achievement of its main objective and the pursuit of its tasks and activities under this Act and separate regulations1 ), including the gathering of information to facilitate the pursuit of tasks and activities of the European System of Central Banks. The National Bank of Slovakia shall participate in the harmonisation of the procedures and rules governing the gathering, compilation and dissemination of statistical information and other information within its scope of authority.
Article 32
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia shall keep a list of banks pursuant to a separate Act.5d (2) The National Bank of Slovakia shall keep a list of representative offices of foreign banks and similar financial institutions pursuant to a separate Act.5e

For example, Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union as amended, Article 128, Article 129(3) and (4),
Article 132(1) Article 133 and Articles 288 to 299 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as
amended; Article 5(4), Article 12(1), Article 16, Article 18(2), Article 19(1), Article 22, Article 26(4), Article 31(3), Article 34(1) and (2) and Article 41 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank as amended. 5d Article 2 (1)(3)(5) and (8), and Articles 7 and 8 of Act No. 483/2001 Coll., as amended.

(3) The National Bank of Slovakia shall keep a register of bank loans and guarantees pursuant to a separate Act.5f
Article 33
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia, within the limits of its jurisdiction, shall enter into payment and other agreements with foreign banks and international financial institutions. (2) The National Bank of Slovakia shall participate in cooperation with foreign rating agencies in determining the rating of the Slovak Republic, which is taken to mean the review and assessment of the ability and readiness of the Slovak Republic to discharge its financial obligations.
Article 34
The National Bank of Slovakia shall coordinate the development of a banking information system in the Slovak Republic. To this end, it may establish by a separate implementing regulation the principles of such a banking information system.
Article 34a
(1) State authorities, self-government bodies, any other public bodies, and other legal persons and natural persons shall be obligated to submit to the National Bank of Slovakia free of charge, complete, correct, true and timely information, reports, statements and other supporting documents and explanations that the National Bank of Slovakia needs to perform its tasks pursuant to this Act and separate legal provisions;5g the structure, scope, content, form, segmentation, deadlines, method, procedure and place of their presentation including the methodology for their preparation shall be stipulated by the National Bank of Slovakia through decrees promulgated in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic, or the National Bank of Slovakia shall file a request for them in writing. (2) The National Bank of Slovakia may, to the extent necessary for the performance of its tasks pursuant to this Act and separate legal provisions,1 cooperate and exchange information with public authorities in the Slovak Republic and other countries, with the Deposit Protection Fund, Investment Guarantee Fund and with international organizations. (3) The requested authority or the requested person may refuse to disclose and provide the requested information only if it would cause a breach of separate legal provisions on classified information or international treaty, which is binding for the Slovak Republic and which takes precedence over the Acts of the Slovak Republic. 5e Article 22 of Act No. 483/2001 Coll. 5f Article 38 of Act No. 483/2001 Coll., as amended. 5g For example, Section 5, Paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and the European Central Bank; Council Regulation (EC) No. 2533/98 of 23 November 1998 concerning the collection of statistical information by the European Central Bank (OJ Special Edition Chapter 01 Volume 03; OJ L 318, 27.11.1998); Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 202/1995 Coll., the Foreign Exchange Act, amending the Act of the Slovak National Council No. 372/1990 Coll. on minor offences, as amended; Act of the Slovak National Council No. 118/1996 Coll., as amended; Act No. 483/2001 Coll., as amended; Act No. 566/2001 Coll., as amended; Act No. 492/2009 Coll., as amended.

Article 34b
(1) Any persons and bodies charged by virtue of law with an obligation to provide the National Bank of Slovakia with information or to give proof of identity when pursuing activities or dealing with the National Bank of Slovakia, persons supervised by the National Bank of Slovakia, parties to proceedings and other persons participating in proceedings before the National Bank of Slovakia and statutory, management, supervisory, auditing and executive bodies of persons participating in proceedings before the National Bank of Slovakia or of persons supervised by the National Bank of Slovakia shall be obligated, for the purpose of their identification and maintaining the possibility of a subsequent control of such identification and for the purpose of performing authority, activities and tasks of the National Bank of Slovakia and documenting the same pursuant to this Act or a separate Act,5h to provide the National Bank of Slovakia, at its request and even without consent of the persons concerned, and also to enable it to obtain through copying, scanning or other type of recording:
a) personal data5i on the identity from an identity document to the extent of a picture, a degree, if any, the name, surname, maiden name, the birth registration number, the date of birth, the place and district of birth, the address of permanent residence, the address of temporary stay, if any, a citizenship, a record of limited capacity to legal acts, if any, the type and number of an identity document, the issuing authority, the issue date and validity of this identity document, in cases involving a natural person, including a natural person representing a legal person, as well as to provide and make it possible to obtain from another document the place of business in cases involving a natural person who is an entrepreneur, the designation of an official register or another official recording system in which this entrepreneur is entered and the number of entry in this register or recording system; b) identification data to the extent of the name, the identification number, where such has been assigned thereto, the address of registered office, the address of place of business or organisational branches and another place of its activities in cases involving a legal person, as well as the list of persons constituting the bodies, shareholders, other partners or proprietors of such a legal person and their details on the scope specified in the first item, the designation of an official register or another official recording system, in which this legal person is entered,5j and the number of entry in this register or recording system; c) a contact telephone number, a fax number and an electronic mail address, where such are available;

5h For example, Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 202/1995 Coll., as amended; Act of the Slovak National Council No. 118/1996 Coll., as amended; Act No. 483/2001 Coll., as amended; Act No. 566/2001 Coll., as amended; Act No. 395/2002 Coll. on archives and registries and on amendments to certain acts, as amended; Article 24 (5) and Article 29 of Act No. 297/2008 Coll.; Act No. 747/2004 Coll., as amended; Act No. 492/2009 Coll. 5i Article 3 of Act No. 428/2002 Coll. on the Protection of Personal Data. 5j For example, Act No. 530/2003 Coll. on the Company Register and on the Modification and Amendment to Certain Acts, as amended, Article 3a and Articles 27 to 33 of the Commercial Code, Article 2(2) and Articles 10 and 11 of Act No. 34/2002 Coll. on Foundations and on the Amendment to the Civil Code, as amended by Act No. 445/2008 Coll., Article 9(1) and (2) and Article 10 of Act No. 147/1997 Coll. on Non-investment Funds and on the Modification and Amendment to Act No. 207/1996 Coll. of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, as amended, Article 9(1) and (2) and Article 11 of Act No. 213/1997 Coll. on Non-Profit Organisations Providing Generally Useful Services, as amended, Articles 6, 7, 9 and 9a of Act No. 83/1990 Coll. on Associating of Citizens, as amended, Article 6(1) and Article 7 of Act No. 182/1993 Coll. of the National Council of the Slovak Republic on Ownership of Apartments and Non-Residential Premises, as amended,
Article 4(3) of Act No. 515/2003 Coll. on Regional Offices and District Offices and on the Modification and
Amendment to Certain Acts, as amended.

d) other information, documents, reports, statements, supporting documentation and explanations required or specified under this Act or under a separate Act.1 (2) For the purpose of identifying the persons pursuant to paragraph 1 and maintaining the possibility of a subsequent control of such identification and for the purpose of performing authority, activities and tasks of the National Bank of Slovakia and documenting the same under this Act and under a separate Act,5h the National Bank of Slovakia shall, even without consent from and notification of the persons concerned,5k be entitled to request, ascertain, record, file, use and otherwise process5l personal data and other data and documents on the scope specified in paragraph 1; in so doing, the National Bank of Slovakia shall be entitled to make copies of identity documents and process birth registration numbers5m and other data and documents on the scope specified in paragraph 1 with the use of automated or nonautomated devices. (3) Even without consent from and the notification of the persons concerned,5k the National Bank of Slovakia shall be entitled to disclose and supply5n for processing by other bodies and persons the data subject to paragraphs 1 and 2 and Article 40 from its information system in cases established by this Act or a separate Act; 5ο whereas the provision of Article 41 shall not be prejudiced hereby. (4) The National Bank of Slovakia may disclose or provide the data subject to paragraphs 1 and 2 and Article 40 abroad only under the conditions established by a separate Act5p or where so stipulated by an international treaty binding upon the Slovak Republic and taking precedence over the Acts of the Slovak Republic.
Article 35
The National Bank of Slovakia shall be entitled to make investments and carry on business activities to the extent necessary to provide for its own operation.
Article 35a
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia is entitled to provide for its own armed protection6 of its premises, property and persons, as well as for the transportation6 of cash and other assets and for own armed protection of such transportation (hereinafter referred to as “own protection”); in performing tasks of own protection, only actions may be performed and guard hardware, weapons and other technical equipment used that are in line with this Act and separate legal provisions.6a (2) In performing tasks of own protection, the staff of the National Bank of Slovakia charged with own protection (hereinafter referred to as “persons charged with own protection”) are entitled to:

5k Article 4(5) and Article 7(3) of Act No. 428/2002 Coll.
5l For example, Article 2 (1) (e) (f) and (g); Article 4 (1) (a) (b) and (c); Article 7 (3) Article 7(4) (b) (f) and (g); the second sentence in Article 7(5) and Paragraph (6); Article 8 (2); Article 10 (3)(b), (6) and (7) of Act No. 428/2002 Coll., as amended; and Article 93a (7) of Act No. 483/2001 Coll., as amended. 5m Article 2 of Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 301/1995 Coll. on the Birth Registration Number. 5n Article 7 (3) and (6) of Act No. 428/2002 Coll., as amended by Act No. 90/2005 Coll. 5o For example the first sentence in Article 6 (13) of Act No. 483/2001 Coll., as amended. 5p Articles 23 and 55 of Act No. 428/2002 Coll., as amended. 6 For example, Act No. 473/2005 Coll. on the provision of private security services and on amendments to certain acts (Private Security Act), as amended; Articles 24 and 25 of the Criminal Code. 6a For example, Act No. 190/2003 on Weapons and Ammunition and on the Modification and Amendment to Certain Acts, as amended.

a) require proof of identity of persons entering or leaving a protected premises or area including proof of identity of persons apprehended upon unauthorized entry or leaving a protected premises or area, and to prohibit unauthorised persons from entering protected premises or areas; b) make recordings and use technical equipment, while monitoring persons and vehicles when entering and leaving a protected premises or area; c) keep a record of persons and vehicles entering and leaving a protected premises or area; d) require proof of identity of a person apprehended while perpetrating an illegal act related to own protection or immediately after the perpetration of such act; e) prohibit, for a necessary period of time, the entry of each person into a specified protected premises or area, where this is necessary for the effective performance of own protection; f) prevent entry of persons bringing weapons with them to a protected premises or area, where entry to the premises or area with weapons is prohibited; g) ascertain, using sight, touch or technical means, whether persons entering or leaving protected premises or areas are bringing with them or wearing items originating from illegal activities related to the objective of own protection or not, or items with the help of which they would be able to perpetrate illegal activities, and to seize such items; h) ascertain, whether persons entering or leaving a protected premises or area by driving a vehicle have items in the vehicle or on the vehicle originating from illegal activities related to the objective of own protection or items with the help of which they would be able to perpetrate illegal activities, and to seize such items; i) bear or wear weapons, provided they are holders of firearms licences issued pursuant to separate legal provisions;6a j) call upon each person to abstain from any illegal activity or threat of illegal activity related to the objective of own protection, and, should the call be unsuccessful, to intervene and take appropriate coercive measures including the use of a guard dog, in order to avert the illegal action immediately threatening to violate or violating the objective of own protection; a person charged with own protection is authorised to use a weapon solely for the purpose of requisite defence and in extreme emergency, in paralysing animals immediately endangering the life or health of a person, to fire a warning shot in the air in order to avert immediate danger that seriously threatens the life or health of a person or the objective of own protection, and, as the case may be, to avert a dangerous attack that seriously threatens the life or health of a person or the objective of own protection, and all this only after an unsuccessful call upon the perpetrator to abstain from the attack has been made; k) for the necessary time, up to the arrival of a policeman, to bring to the guard stand the person who, in connection with own protection, refuses to or is not
able to demonstrate his identity in a credible way or who has been apprehended when perpetrating an offence or immediately thereafter, or who has been apprehended upon unauthorised entry or leaving of a protected premises or area; l) to restrain the personal freedom6b of a person being apprehended when perpetrating a crime or immediately thereafter, where this is necessary for identifying the person, avoiding his escape or for preserving evidence; nevertheless, they are obligated to deliver promptly such a person to the Police; (3) Each person must obey such a call by persons charged with own protection pursuant to paragraph 2. Stipulations in paragraph 2, letters f) to h) shall not be applied against members of the armed forces of the Slovak Republic, armed security corps, armed corps, the Military Police, the Slovak Intelligence Service, the National Security

6b Article 85(2) of the Penal Code.

Office, or against other similar persons who while performing public administration tasks enter a protected premises or area. (4) In a place, where a criminal law is assumed to have been perpetrated, a traffic accident, operational accident, work injury or other extraordinary incident has occurred, a person has been killed or physically harmed, or where a firearm or guard hardware has been used, the person charged with own protection is obliged to behave in a manner so as not to hinder the investigation in any way, and, in particularly, to a) immediately report the accident to the nearest Police Department through his superior officers; b) protect evidence against disintegration, damage or removal; c) prevent the entry of unauthorised persons into such a place; d) prevent the adding or removal of items to/from such a place; e) avert further damaging consequences of the accident.
PART EIGHT
SUPERVISION PERFORMED
BY THE NATIONAL BANK OF SLOVAKIA
Article 36
The National Bank of Slovakia shall perform supervision of the financial market pursuant to this Act and separate legal provisions.1b
Article 37
The National Bank of Slovakia shall also perform foreign exchange supervision pursuant to the separate regulations,7) supervision of the provision of payment services and payment systems pursuant to the separate regulations,1a) and supervision of companies processing banknotes and coins pursuant to this Act.
Article 37a - cancelled with effect from 1 January 2006
PART NINE
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
OF THE NATIONAL BANK OF SLOVAKIA
Article 38
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia shall maintain accounts and prepare the financial statements in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable to the European System of Central Banks.7d

Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 202/1995 Coll., as amended. 7d For example, Article 26 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, Guideline of the European Central Bank ECB/2006/16 (2006/887/EC) of 10 November 2006 on the legal framework for accounting and financial reporting in the European System of Central Banks (OJ L 348 of 11 December 2006), Article 17b and Article 20 of the Act no. 431/2002 Coll. on accountancy as amended.

(2) The financial statements of the National Bank of Slovakia shall be audited by an independent external auditor recommended and approved in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable to the Eurosystem.8 (3) The National Bank of Slovakia shall prepare and publish its annual reports in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable to the Eurosystem.7d (4) The National Bank of Slovakia shall process and provide for publication the balance sheet of the assets and liabilities of the National Bank of Slovakia.
Article 39
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia shall have a share in the capital of the European Central Bank to the extent and under the conditions laid down in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable to the Eurosystem.8a (2) The National Bank of Slovakia shall transfer foreign reserve assets to the European Central Bank to the extent and under the conditions laid down in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable to the Eurosystem.8b (3) The assets and liabilities of the National Bank of Slovakia which fall under the Eurosystem shall be maintained and reported in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable to the Eurosystem.9 The National Bank of Slovakia shall participate in the allocation of monetary income within the Eurosystem and in the allocation of the net profit and loss of the European Central Bank, to the extent and under the conditions laid down in accordance with the separate legal provisions applicable to the Eurosystem.9 (4) The financial result of the National Bank of Slovakia for an accounting period is the profit or loss it has generated. The National Bank of Slovakia shall use the generated profit for allocations to the reserve fund and other funds created from profit, or for covering accumulated losses from previous years. To cover the loss made in an accounting period, the National Bank of Slovakia may use the reserve fund or other funds. The remaining accumulated loss, the amount of which is decided by the Bank Board shall be carried over to the following accounting period. (5) The National Bank of Slovakia shall submit its annual report and financial results to the National Council of the Slovak Republic for discussion within three months after the end of the calendar year; besides the financial statements of the National Bank of Slovakia and the auditor's statement on the respective audit, this report shall separately include information on the operating costs of the National Bank of Slovakia. If so requested by the National Council of the Slovak Republic, the National Bank of Slovakia shall, in accordance with that request, have six weeks to provide the additional information or to submit an explanation in respect of the submitted annual report on the financial results of the National Bank of Slovakia.

Article 27(1) of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European
Central Bank.
8a Article 28, 29, 47 and 48 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank. 8b Article 30 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank.
Article 26, 32 and 33 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the
European Central Bank.

PART TEN
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 40
Banking secrecy shall apply to all banking operations of the National Bank of Slovakia, including balances of the accounts it keeps. In providing information on matters relating to a National Bank of Slovakia client without his consent, which is subject to banking secrecy, the National Bank of Slovakia shall proceed pursuant to a separate Act.9a
Article 41
Bank secret
Members of the Bank Board and other employees of the National Bank of Slovakia and engaged persons shall be obligated to observe confidentiality with regard to matters of their office. This obligation shall remain in effect even after termination of employment or other similar relationship. In pursuance of a public cause, members of the Bank Board may be released from this obligation by the Bank Board, and other employees of the National Bank of Slovakia and engaged persons may be released from it by the Governor. Deemed as public shall be causes specified in a separate Act,9a where the information is provided pursuant to
Article 40, the exchange of information pursuant to Article 34a, paragraph 2, and, to the
extent necessary for the performance of supervision by the National Bank of Slovakia, also the exchange of information between the National Bank of Slovakia and other bodies of public administration in the Slovak Republic in charge of supervision pursuant to separate Acts1f and foreign supervisory authorities in the area of the financial market. It shall not be possible to release one from the secrecy obligation and to disclose information on matters related to the participation of the National Bank of Slovakia in the European System of Central Banks, should this be in contradiction with the tasks and obligations of the National Bank of Slovakia ensuing from its participation in the European System of Central Banks. 9aa
Article 41a
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia as part of the Eurosystem shall support the general economic policies in the European Community with intention to contribute to achievement of the objectives of the European Community,1ac however without prejudice to maintaining price stability as its main objective. (2) The National Bank of Slovakia as part of the Eurosystem shall act in accordance with the guidelines and instructions of the European Central Bank.9ab

9a Article 91(4) of Act No. 483/2001 Coll., as amended. 9aa Articles 10(4) and 37 of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank. 9ab Article 14(3) and Article 42(1) of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank.

PART ELEVEN
JOINT, TRANSITORY
AND CONCLUDING PROVISIONS
Article 42
The issuance of securities and the activities of the National Bank of Slovakia hereunder shall not be subject to supervision, authorisations or public offering of securities pursuant to separate legal provisions.9b
Article 42a
The National Bank of Slovakia shall be entitled to set charges and other conditions for the performance of services it provides, unless otherwise stated by law. Services provided by the National Bank of Slovakia are taken to mean services performed pursuant to this Act and separate legal provisions.1
Article 43
The provisions of separate legal provisions10 shall apply to employees of the National Bank of Slovakia. Employees of the National Bank of Slovakia shall be subject, as appropriate, to the provisions of Article 7(5) to (7). The own protection duty (Article 35a) shall also be subject to health and mental capacity to pursue the own protection activities and tasks; such capacity shall be evidenced before taking up the own protection duty and on a regular basis in three months’ intervals during the pursuit of own protection duty by way of a medical report, including a psychological examination.
Article 44
The National Bank of Slovakia shall issue the Gazette of National Bank of Slovakia [Vestník Národnej banky Slovenska](hereinafter referred to as „Gazette“), in which it shall publish in particular:
a) decrees of the National Bank of Slovakia issued to implement this Act or a separate Act,1 which are promulgated in the Collection of Acts; b) decisions of the Bank Board on setting for each calendar year the amount of the annual contributions of supervised entities of the financial market,1e), c) the pronoucement of an enforceable decision or the substantiation of a decision of the National Bank of Slovakia or of their part, if they are determined for publication in the Gazette pursuant to this Act or a separate Act;1 d) methodical instructions and recommendations explaining the application of this Act, separate Acts1 and other generally binding regulations relating to supervised entities or to their activities, if they are determined for publication in the Gazette; e) other matters of fact stipulated in a separate legal provision;1 f) other important notifications of the National Bank of Slovakia.

9b Act No. 594/2003 Coll. on Collective Investment and on the Modification and Amendment to Certain Acts, as amended, Act No. 566/2001 Coll., as amended. 10 For example, Articles 81 to 83 of the Labour Code.

Article 45
(1) He who has breached an obligation imposed hereunder to provide the National Bank of Slovakia with information needed by it in order to ensure the performance of its tasks hereunder, or he who has breached another obligation imposed hereunder, may be charged by the National Bank of Slovakia with a measure to remove and rectify the unlawful condition, depending on the severity, manner and degree of fault, nature, extent and duration of the unlawful conduct and revealed shortcomings, and imposed a fine in the valid currency unit up to the value of EUR 30,000, and for a repeated or serious shortcoming, up to the value of EUR 60,000; where such a breach of obligation has resulted in financial gains exceeding EUR 60,000, it shall be possible to impose a fine up to the amount of the financial benefit gained. Such a measure and fine may be imposed concurrently and repeatedly. Their imposition shall not injure the obligation to surrender unjustified gains11 or the responsibility pursuant to separate legal provisions.1 (2) Unless provided otherwise hereunder, measures and fines pursuant to paragraph 1, the proceeds from fines pursuant to paragraph 1 and the proceedings and a decision on the imposition of a measure and fine pursuant to paragraph 1 shall abide by a separate legal provision,12 with proceedings in the first instance falling within the jurisdiction of a designated unit under the organisational chart of the National Bank of Slovakia.
Article 45a
The provisions of this Act shall not apply to relations which are otherwise governed by legally binding acts of institutions and bodies of the European Union or by international treaties which are binding upon the Slovak Republic and which take precedence over the Acts of the Slovak Republic.12a
Article 46
Provisions governing the transformation of the Czecho-slovak currency into the Slovak currency shall be stipulated by a separate legal provision.
Article 47
The transfer of property, rights and obligations from the State Bank of Czecho-slovakia to the National Bank of Slovakia shall be governed by a separate legal provision.

11 Articles 451 to 459 of the Civil Code.
12 Article 50(7) to (9) and (10), the first sentence of Act No. 483/2001 Coll., as amended. Articles 12 to 34 of Act No. 747/2004 Coll. as amended. 12a For example, Article 7(2) and (5) of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic No 460/1992 Coll., as amended by Constitutional Act No 90/2001 Coll.; Articles 249 to 256 of the Treaty establishing the European Community as amended; Article 1(1) of the Treaty of Accession of the Slovak Republic to the European Union and Article 2 of the attached Act concerning the conditions of accession and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded (OJ L 236 of 23 September 2003; Notification No 185/2004 Coll.).

Article 48
Until the transformation of the Czecho-slovak currency into the Slovak currency is fully realized, the issue of banknotes and coins shall be regulated by Part 4 of Act No. 22/1992 Coll. on the State Bank of Czecho-slovakia.
Article 49
Until the transformation of the Czecho-slovak currency into the Slovak currency is fully realized, penalties pursuant to Article 36, paragraph 4, letter b) and Article 37, paragraph 4 of this Act shall be levied in Czecho-slovak korunas.
Article 49a
Transitory Provisions
In force as of 1 May 2001
(1) With effect from 1 May 2001, provisions of this Act concerning the issue of banknotes and coins (Articles 16 through 17g) will also apply to banknotes and coins issued by the National Bank of Slovakia prior to 1 May 2001, if they are valid on 1 May 2001. (2) The term of office of a Bank Board member shall be governed by regulations applicable at the time of his appointment.
Article 49aa
Joint Transitory Provisions
In force as of 15 December 2005
(1) The National Bank of Slovakia shall provide for the performance of preparatory activities for the introduction of the euro as a monetary unit and legal tender in the Slovak Republic; it shall provide for the placement of the lettering “Slovensko” or “Slovenská republika” on the Slovak side of the euro coins. Stipulations of a separate legal provision13 shall not apply to euro banknotes and euro coins. (2) Starting from 15 December 2005, the stipulations of this Act concerning membership on the Bank Board and the terms of office of members and the appointment of members of the Bank Board shall also apply to persons that were appointed Bank Board members prior to 15 December 2005. (3) The stipulation of Article 7, paragraph 6, the first sentence on incompatibility of membership of the Bank Board with another position, profession, office or employment with a public authority shall not apply where this refers to positions, professions, offices or employment with the Financial Market Authority.14 For the purposes of Article 7, paragraph 1, the second sentence, the condition of employment with the National Bank of Slovakia shall be considered fulfilled for natural persons being employed by the Financial Market Authority.14

13 Article 3 (6)(i) of Act No. 63/1993 Coll. on State Symbols of the Slovak Republic and their Use as amended. 14 Article 2 of Act No. 96/2002 Coll. on Supervision of the Financial Market and on the Modification and Amendment to Certain Acts as amended.

Article 49ab
Joint Transitory Provisions in force as of 1 January 2008 (1) The provisions of Articles 7 to 9 of this Act concerning members of the Bank Board in the wording in force as of 1 January 2008, shall as of 1 January 2008 also apply to persons appointed as members of the Bank Board before 1 January 2008. (2) Decisions of the National Bank of Slovakia on granting prior approval for the processing of banknotes and coins for other persons, adopted in proceedings conducted under existing legal provisions and valid as at 1 January 2008, shall be treated as of 1 January 2008 as licences to process banknotes and coins issued by the National Bank of Slovakia in proceedings conducted in accordance with this Act and separate legal provisions;3m) holders of such licences shall be required to meet the conditions and requirements for processors, and for the processing of banknotes and coins under this Act, not later than 30 June 2008. The restriction or suspension of any activity performed under such a licence to process banknotes and coins, and any amendment, revocation or termination of such a licence, shall be subject to the provisions of this Act and separate legal provisions.3m) (3) Where on-site inspections and proceedings concerning processors or the processing of banknotes and coins were commenced but not validly concluded before 1 January 2008, they shall be concluded in accordance with this Act and separate legal provisions;3m) any legal consequence which arose from such on-site inspections or proceedings before 1 January 2008 shall remain unaffected. (4) For conversion of rates stipulated in Article 17f(7)(c) and in Article 45(1) into the Slovak korunas, during the period from 1 January 2008 to the day immediately preceding the euro introduction date, the euro foreign exchange reference rate set and published by the National Bank of Slovakia shall be used. (5) The National Bank of Slovakia shall, within its field of the competence, ensure the performance of activities related to the introduction, and preparations for the introduction, of the euro in the Slovak Republic.15 (6) As of the euro introduction date in the Slovak Republic, the exclusive power to set monetary policy and monetary policy instruments and the exclusive power to license issuance of banknotes and approve the volume of issuance of coins shall pass from the National Bank of Slovakia to the European Central Bank; the exclusive power to set exchange rate policy shall pass from the National Bank of Slovakia to the competent institutions and bodies of the European Union; this is without prejudice to the power of the National Bank of Slovakia to set and publish the foreign exchange reference rates of the euro to such other currencies which are actively traded or otherwise used in the Slovak Republic and for which the European Central Bank does not set and publish the euro foreign exchange reference rate. (7) The difference between, on the one hand, the sum of denominations of Slovak
banknotes and Slovak coins in Slovak korunas and haliers which have been put into circulation by the National Bank of Slovakia and, on the other hand, the sum of denominations of Slovak banknotes and coins which have been exchanged for euro banknotes and euro coins, that arises from the exchange of Slovak banknotes and Slovak coins for the

15 For example, Act no. 659/2007 Coll. [on the introduction of the euro in the Slovak Republic]; Guideline of the European Central Bank No ECB/2006/9 (2006/525/EC) of 14 July 2006 on certain preparations for the euro cash changeover and on frontloading and sub-frontloading of euro banknotes and coins outside the euro area (OJ L 207, 28 July 2006), Guideline of the European central Bank ECB/2006/10 (2006/549/EC) of 24 July 2006 on the exchange of banknotes after the irrevocable fixing of exchange rates in connection with the introduction of the euro (OJ L 215, 5 August 2006).

reason of the introduction of the euro in the Slovak Republic, shall be income of the National Bank of Slovakia. (8) As of the euro introduction date in the Slovak Republic, the production, submission, discussion and publication of reports and information on monetary developments for the period before the euro introduction date in the Slovak Republic, as well as the production, submission, discussion and publication of the financial statements, annual report and management report of the National Bank of Slovakia, the audit of the financial statements, and the appointment of an external auditor to audit the financial statements for the accounting period before the euro introduction date in the Slovak Republic, shall be completed in accordance with other rules laid down in legal provisions valid as at the euro introduction date in the Slovak Republic, unless otherwise provided by a separate legal provision.
Article 49ac
Transitional provisions in effect as of 1 December 2009 The provisions of Article 7 on the rules for the Bank Board membership and terms of office and appointment of Bank Board members in effect as of 1 December 2009 shall also apply to the persons appointed as Bank Board members before 1 December 2009. Starting from 1 December 2009 and until the total number of the other Bank Board members falls to five, the members of the Bank Board shall be the Governor, two Vice-governors and all the other Bank Board members appointed as such before 1 December 2009 whose terms of office continue as of 1 December 2009; they shall be members of the Bank Board until their office ceases to exist in accordance with Article 7 (8) of this Act. However, the Government may appoint after 30 November 2009 an additional Bank Board member until the total number of Bank Board members falls below five; the foregoing is without prejudice to the authority of the President of the Slovak Republic to appoint the Governor and Vice-governors.
Article 49b
The following shall be hereby cancelled:

1. Act No. 22/1992 Coll. on the Czechoslovak State Bank,
2. Act No. 76/1976 Coll. on the Minting of Czechoslovak Ducats.
   Article 50
   This Act shall come into effect on 1 January 1993, with the exception of provisions in Articles 15 to 17 and Article 28, letter a), which shall take effect on the date of the transformation of the Czechoslovak currency into the Slovak currency. (Note: Pursuant to Resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 27/1993 Coll., the date of the transformation into the Slovak currency was 8 February 1993.) Act No. 26/1993 Coll. of the National Council of the Slovak Republic came into effect on 2 February 1993. Act No. 159/1993 Coll. of the National Council of the Slovak Republic came into effect on 1 August 1993. Act No. 249/1994 Coll. of the National Council of the Slovak Republic came into effect on 1 October 1994.

Act No. 374/1994 Coll. of the National Council of the Slovak Republic came into effect on 1 January 1995. Act No. 202/1995 Coll. of the National Council of the Slovak Republic came into effect on 1 October 1995. Act No. 118/1996 Coll. of the National Council of the Slovak Republic came into effect on 1 July 1996. Act No. 386/1996 Coll. of the National Council of the Slovak Republic came into effect on 1 January 1997. Act No. 348/1999 Coll. came into effect on 17 December 1999. Act No. 149/2001 Coll. came into effect on 1 May 2001, with the exemption of the provisions of Part I, points 1 and 2 [revisions of Article 1, paragraphs 1 and 3] that came into effect on 1 July 2001. Act No. 602/2003 Coll. came into effect on 1 January 2004, with the exemption of Part I, item 28 [revisions of Article 19a, paragraph 2, letter a), item 2 of the Foreign Exchange Act] that shall come into effect from the validity date of the Agreement on Accession of the Slovak Republic to the European Union (i.e. on 1 May 2004). Act No. 747/2004 Coll. came into effect on 1 January 2006, with the exemption of Sections XVII, XVIII, XIX, and XX, which came into effect on 1 January 2005, and with the exemption of Section I, Article 45, the third sentence of paragraph 5, and Section XII, item 1 [Article 21, paragraph 2, letter d)], item 3 [Article 71a], and item 4 [Article 72a], which came into effect on 1 February 2005 [Nota bene: The amendment to the National Bank of Slovakia Act came into effect on 1 January 2006.] Act No. 519/2005 Coll. came into effect on 15 December 2005, with the exemption of Section I, items 1 to 13 and 25 to 52, Sections III and IV, which came into effect on 1 January 2006. [Nota bene: Starting from 15 December 2005, stipulations of Articles 7 and 8, paragraph 1, and new Article 49aa of the National Bank of Slovakia Act came into effect.] Act No. 659/2007 Coll. entered into force on 1 January 2008, except for the provisions of
Section XXII point 2 to 4 [Article 3(11), Article 7a(4), Article 8aa(3)], which shall enter into
force on 1 April 2008 and except for the provisions of Section II point 2 [Article 2(1)(a) and (b), point 6 [Article 3], points 8 and 9 [Article 4(4), Article 6(1)(a)], point 12 [Article6(2)(e)], points 28 to 30 [Article 15, Article 16, Article 17(1)], point 32 [Article 17c], point 34 [Article 17h(2)], point 37 [Article 20 and Article 21], point 45 [Article 28], point 51 [Article 31(1)] and point 58 [Articles 38 and 39], the provisions of Section III point 1 [Article 5(6)], the provisions of Section IV point 2 [Article 93(3)], points 4 and 5 [Article 108(1) and Article 109(1)], point 13 [Article 157(1), the fourth sentence], point 14 [Article 162(3)], point 17 [Article 223(3)] and point 21 [Article 369(1)], the provisions of Section V point 5 [Article 40(10)] and point 7 [Article 42(7)], the provisions of Section VI point 4 [Article 3 (2)(c) point 1], point 35 [Article 76(2)], point 39 [Article 85(4)], points 41 to 43 [Article 87(2) and (3) and Article 88(8)] and point 63, the provisions of Section VII point 3 [Article 3(1)(c) point 1], the provisions of Section VIII point 2 [Section I Article 48(2)], the provisions of

Section X point 1 [Article 2(2)(c) points 1 and 2, Article 38(1), Article 67(2) and Article
87(2)(d)] and points 10 to 12 [Article 84(2) and (3), Article 85a(2) and (4), Article 87(2)(i)], the provisions of Section XI, the provisions of Section XII point 2 [Article 7(4)] and points 4 to 7 [Article 9(1), Article 9(2)(b), Article 9(3), Article 10(8)], the provisions of Section XIII point 1 [Article 4(4)(d),], point 3 [Article 8(3)], points 5 and 6 [Article 21a(2)(b), Article 30(2)] and points 10 to 12 [Article 75, Article 77(2) to (5), Article 78a] and point 13, the provisions of Section XIV, the provisions of Section XV points 1 and 2 [Article 23(11),
Article 75(2)], the provisions of Section XVI, point 2 [Article 61], the provisions of
Section XVII, points 1 to 6 [Article 56(1), Article 64(5), Article 116(8), Article 129(2),
Article 138(1)(a) and Article 138(25)] and the provisions of Section XVIII and Sections XXII
point 1 [Article 1(2)(e)] and the provisions of Section XXIII to Section XXVI, which shall enter into force on the euro introduction date in the Slovak Republic. (1 January 2009). Act No 492/2009 Coll. entered into force on 1 December 2009 except for the provisions of
Section XI point 17 [Article 88a to 88d], which shall enter into force on 1 April 2010.