The Banker : Jan Pociatek is „Best finance minister for year 2008 in Europe“

Last update: 14.01.2009 06:00

The prestigious British monthly magazine on global finance, The Banker (published since 1926 and a member of the Financial Times group of business publications) has recognized Mr Jan Pociatek in its January 2009 issue as the „Best finance minister for year 2008 in Europe“.

Minister Pociatek has been awarded for the key contribution to Slovakia’s entry to the Eurozone. The Banker also appreciated minister’s approach to the consolidation of the public finance, which allowed Slovakia to meet the Maastricht criteria and the adoption of the euro currency as the first country from the Visegrad Group. The Banker also emphasized minister’s effort to keep the long-term sustainability of the country’s public finance and the confidence it gained in the international financial markets.

According to the financial editor of The Banker magazine, Mr Phillip Alexander, the last 12 month were very turbulent for the majority of finance ministers in the world. In time of the global finance crisis and the threat of high inflation the magazine appreciated minister’s very prudent fiscal policy stance.

The decision to award Mr Pociatek was the result of the assessment of the magazine editorial team and as well as a survey among the influential European bankers and economists.