MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Monday, 2 June 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Sunday, 1 June): BRATISLAVA - The government hasn't registered any cases of abuse of EU funds, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said at a press conference on Sunday, adding that the cabinet can't vote in favour of a complete halt of nuclear fuel from Russia to the EU as it would jeopardise the operation of nuclear power plants in Slovakia. "We've repeatedly declared this idea of the European Commission to be harmful, ideological and damaging to the competitiveness of the European Union," said Fico, adding that Slovakia will intervene in the EU to fight for its national interests in the preparation of legislative changes concerning oil, gas and nuclear fuel. The premier also commented on the visit of a delegation from the European Parliament, which investigated the case of abuse of EU funds provided through the Agricultural Payment Agency. Slovakia, he said, isn't facing any corruption scandal, adding that in 2015, the European Commission had approved a call for proposals that allowed money to be requested for, for example, guesthouses or lorries. All these projects were implemented between 2020-2023, while various audits were also carried out and their sustainability was monitored. BRATISLAVA - One public and one church holiday could be scrapped as part of the consolidation, however, the transaction tax was a necessity without which the government couldn't do the consolidation as it's a tool to get €700 million into the state budget to consolidate public finances, Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a press conference on Sunday. "I received with great respect the proposal of the Republic Union of Employers (RUZ), which says that there is another way of approaching the consolidation of public finances. I looked in great detail at what the Republican Union of Employers is proposing. These are various measures, but above all of a long-term nature," stated Fico, adding that, for example, measures to merge offices or reduce the number of employees in the public administration by 15 percent can't be done by the end of the year, because it is a long-term process. According to him, the current government had to consolidate public finances because it took over the bad management of the state from the former governments of Igor Matovic, Eduard Heger and Ludovit Odor. Therefore, not only entrepreneurs and local authorities, but also all the inhabitants of Slovakia must pay for it. The premier specified that he also sees in the RUZ's proposals one in the form of scrapping two public holidays, which could be discussed. BRATISLAVA - I want to visit Kiev with a positive message or result, President Peter Pellegrini said on JOJ 24's discussion programme 'Politika 24' (Politics 24) on Sunday, adding that if the visit is to be only formal, he isn't interested in such a trip. "I'm ready to travel to Kiev when the content of our trip is prepared in such a way that the result will be an agreement that will benefit not only Ukraine but also Slovakia," noted Pellegrini, adding that he often meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The head of state, as he said, is a proponent of making foreign affairs policy oriented in all four cardinal directions, explaining that the better relations Slovakia has with the big EU countries, the better it will be able to change their decisions. "All that we're fighting for in a sovereign foreign policy can also be done at a high level of friendship and goodwill. It doesn't always have to be a duel," said Pellegrini who is convinced that sovereign foreign policy can be done in a way that Western leaders will also regard Slovakia as a good partner and friend. BRATISLAVA - The charges pressed by an investigator of the former National Crime Agency (NAKA) in the case of the abduction of a Vietnamese national was unlawful in its entirety, according to the opinion of the supervising prosecutor, which was provided to TASR by spokeswoman for the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Bratislava Gabriela Kovacova. The investigator's procedure clearly violated the Penal Code, established case law, penal law theory and legally binding European Union instruments. The accusation and, in particular, the procedure by which it was arrived at bordered on arbitrariness on the part of the investigator of the former NAKA. "In that case, extremely extensive evidence was collected, which goes well beyond the evidence taken in similar cases. The investigating officer of the Internal Affairs Inspectorate (UIS) procured all available evidence that could contribute to the clarification of the case and the identification of the perpetrator. To that end, he interviewed every witness who was even minimally likely to have any knowledge," said the spokeswoman, adding that in addition to the questioning of a large number of persons, a number of documents, expert statements, legal aid acts and other evidence were also procured. She also stressed that the UIS investigator has been extremely thorough in his approach to the evidence so far. ko