Towards an agreement on Slovak-Hungarian cross-border rescue cooperation

27 January 2025

The #ACCESS project supported by the Hungary-Slovakia Interreg CBC programme aims to eliminate persisting cross-border legal and administrative barriers between Slovakia and Hungary. One of the most frequently cited field of obstacles is health care, including both the emergency and the inpatient services.

On January 22, 2025, representatives from Austria (AU), Slovakia (SK), and Hungary (HU) gathered in Banská Bystrica to advance discussions on cross-border collaboration in Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The meeting was organised following the first informal meeting held in Bratislava in November, 2024.

Meeting Overview

The meeting began with a comprehensive introduction to the rescue systems in Slovakia and Hungary by Mr Osama Al-Khaldi, general director of the Slovak national rescue centre and Mr János Haness, regional director of the Hungarian rescue services. Both countries operate centralised ambulance services as integral components of their respective Integrated Rescue Systems, alongside police, fire, and civil protection services.

Key Statistics:

  • Annual Emergency Calls: Slovakia handles over 800,000 calls to emergency numbers 112 and 155, while Hungary manages approximately 1.5 million.
  • Ambulance Units: Slovakia operates 328 ambulance units, including rescue helicopters, while Hungary fields 850 units.
  • Response Times: Both nations report an average response time of 12 to 13 minutes from emergency call acceptance to arrival at the location.
  • Ambulance Crew Composition: Teams typically consist of doctors and paramedics, with additional drivers as needed, depending on the severity of the case.

Discussion on the main conditions for cross-border rescue

The second part of the meeting focused on questions which may affect the drafting of an agreement on cross-border rescue cooperation between Slovakia and Hungary. This draft was modelled on the existing cooperation framework between the South Moravian Region and the Lower Austria Region presented by Mr. Siegfried Weinert (Lower Austria).

Progress Made:

  • A consensus was reached on most of the proposed paragraphs.
  • Outstanding issues were identified and referred to relevant experts for resolution.
  • The final draft will be submitted to the respective central authorities for further discussion.

Facility Visit and Conclusion

The meeting concluded with a visit to the dispatch centre of the rescue service of Banská Bystrica, providing participants with practical insights into operational workflows.

The event was chaired by Mr. Osama Al-Khaldi and was exceptionally well-organised, thanks to Mr. Jozef Karaš, medical director of the Slovak Rescue Centre, and his team. Their efforts ensured a productive and impactful meeting that paves the way for enhanced cross-border EMS collaboration.

Based on the decision made by the Slovak Government on 15 January, 2025, the negotiations can start on behalf of Slovakia. Similar authorisation and the appointment of the negotiating delegation is expected on behalf of Hungary which will pave the way for detailed discussions on and the preparation of the bilateral State Treaty and the cooperation agreement on cross-border rescue cooperation.

Building partnership!

The project is financially supported by the European Union,
within the framework of the Interreg Hungary – Slovakia Programme.

For more information visit www.skhu.eu.

Building partnership!

The project is financially supported by the European Union,
within the framework of the Interreg Hungary – Slovakia Programme.

For more information visit www.skhu.eu.

BRIDGEforEU regulation to be adoptedReference group in Királyhelmec (closed workshop)