MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Thursday, 12 June 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Wednesday, 11 June): BRATISLAVA - President Peter Pellegrini welcomed King Philip VI of Spain to the Presidential Palace in Bratislava on Tuesday (10 June), the President's Office's communications department has informed TASR, adding that this is the first official visit by a Spanish monarch to Slovakia in more than twenty years. The office also stated that this is a significant milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries. BRATISLAVA - If the price of the current international situation is to be a sharp increase in defence spending, Slovakia is interested in consuming it primarily at home, via its own production, or in cooperation with countries with which it would be mutually beneficial, said Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) following his meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Wednesday, TASR has learnt from its special correspondent. In addition to cooperation in the defence industry, Fico highlighted potential for cooperation in the energy sector as well. "The president and I have defined several areas in the defence industry in which it wouldn't have to be just about sales and purchases. These are areas in which we can create joint ventures, we can proceed together and it will be beneficial, plus financially and economically efficient and useful for both countries," said the Slovak premier. BRATISLAVA - A festive gala evening was held yesterday in Bratislava to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of the International Visegrad Fund. The event brought together the President of the Slovak Republic, the highest representatives of V4 ministries of foreign affairs, ambassadors, diplomats, civil society representatives, and other invited guests. Among the evening’s distinguished guests were the President of the Slovak Republic, Peter Pellegrini, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Juraj Blanár, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jan Lipavský, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski. BRATISLAVA - A police investigator refiled charges against former environment minister Jan B. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons] on 5 June, Peter Habara of the Police Corps Presidium's communications department has confirmed for TASR. The police in May charged Jan B. with the ongoing crime of violating obligations in the management of somebody else's property in connection with the inefficient, wasteful and purposeless use of Environment Ministry funds. This allegedly caused damage to the state budget worth a total of almost €570,000. BRATISLAVA - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party rejects Prime Minister Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) statement that Slovakia will not support a new package of sanctions against Russia, calling it irresponsible and dangerous for the country’s credibility within the European Union (EU) and NATO, SaS spokesperson Ondrej Sprlak told TASR on Wednesday. "Fico is holding the EU hostage. He's threatening to veto [the package] while proposing nothing himself. This isn't the behaviour of an ally, but of a saboteur," said MP Juraj Krupa (SaS). The government's task, according to the party, is to look for alternative energy sources, from safe countries. According to him, other EU-member states have followed this path. BRATISLAVA - King Felipe VI of Spain visited the Lest (Banska Bystrica region) military training area on Wednesday to observe the skills of Spanish soldiers and their cooperation with allies, accompanied by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, who noted that the king’s visit to Slovakia was about more than just military activities. According to the Slovak president the exercise in Lest demonstrated that the multinational brigade led by the Spanish is prepared to meet the demands of NATO. Together, the Spanish king and Slovak president welcomed the Spanish contingent, with the president expressing his gratitude for its role in protecting Slovakia and its territorial integrity. BRATISLAVA - The JAVYS company has proposed collaboration between Slovakia and Kazakhstan on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, while the VUJE company plans to focus on ways the countries can work together to develop the technical and institutional infrastructure needed for the sector, the Slovak Government Office announced on Wednesday during a government delegation’s visit to Kazakhstan. In connection with the supply of nuclear fuel components for Slovakia's needs, the company JSC NAC Kazatomprom has expressed interest in cooperating with VUJE and 'Slovenske elektrarne'. lin