At its next session, the Slovak Parliament is preparing a major amendment to the Civil and Commercial Codes that will significantly simplify day-to-day communication. A key change will be the recognition of standard electronic channels—that is, emails, chats, and text messages—as a fully valid legal form.
How this will work in practice
If you’re renting an apartment or negotiating a partnership with a business owner, you’ll no longer need to print out documents or collect physical signatures to enter into a contract. The property owner will send you a draft agreement via message or email, and your reply—such as “OK, I agree”—can help establish a legally binding relationship.
This step is based on European practice, and proponents of the changes cite the European regulation on electronic identification. Similar rules have been in effect for years in other European Union countries.
Context and prior history will be decisive
The biggest question regarding electronic agreements remains how courts will verify identities and protect the parties from disputes. According to legal experts, in cases of ambiguity, the so-called “usual method of communication” will be decisive.
Courts will consider the overall context and prior communications between the parties involved. If you and your counterpart have typically confirmed agreements using a specific, established method and vocabulary, the court will consider this digital trail as evidence.
The opposition warns of risks
However, not everyone welcomes the change with enthusiasm. Some in the political arena note that the relaxation of the rules comes at an inopportune time, when the business environment is facing pressure from government measures and consolidation packages.
Critics argue that opening the door to informal agreements via SMS could lead to legal instability and increase the risk of opaque disputes in which it would be difficult for the average person to prove their case. The same rules will apply to directories of services and companies where standard B2B transactions are conducted remotely.
