MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Friday, 13 June 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Thursday, 12 June): BRATISLAVA - President Peter Pellegrini convened a working session of the three top constitutional officials to discuss domestic and foreign policy issues at the Presidential Palace on Thursday morning, announcing that he will hold a round-table discussion next week with parliamentary party leaders on increasing security and defence spending ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague in June, TASR learnt from the the President's Office's communications department on Thursday. "The head of state will convene a round-table discussion next week with the leaders of parliamentary political parties on the current issue of increasing security and defence spending ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague in June," stated the communications department. All three top constitutional officials have agreed to this. President Pellegrini, Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) have also coordinated their planned activities for the next few weeks. BRATISLAVA - President Peter Pellegrini on Thursday signed into law measures proposed by the Defence Ministry that are aimed at strengthening Slovakia's defence and security, including changes to the active reserves, which will now replace the National Defence Forces, and the setting up of a gendarmerie to assist the police in maintaining public order. "The draft law regulates a new process for enrolling registered citizens, active members of the armed security forces, armed forces, rescue units, public officials and soldiers from other reserves into various components of the National Defence Forces. Considering the tasks they are to perform, the conditions for inclusion in operational reserves, standby reserves and territorial reserves are specifically regulated, with a fundamental voluntary principle governing the entire enrolment process," the document states. BRATISLAVA - Civil aviation might return to Sliac Airport (Banska Bystrica region), as the government on Thursday approved a proposal to this effect sponsored by Tourism Minister Rudolf Huliak (Independent). Huliak should launch negotiations on resuming civil aviation at Sliac with the Defence and Transport Ministries and submit information on the result of the negotiations to the government by February 2026. The ministry believes that the plan will contribute towards developing tourism in the region. "The resumption of civil aviation at Sliac is of strategic importance in the long term not only for the town of Sliac and its surroundings, but for the whole of Slovakia," stated the ministry, adding that the accessibility of transport is one of the key elements that influence foreign clients when deciding whether to visit Sliac spa with its high concentration of natural and healing springs. BRATISLAVA - Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) will pay a fine if the parliamentary conflict of interests committee decides to impose one on him for his failure to include the possession of his wife's villa in Croatia in his property declaration, Kalinak himself told journalists during a meeting of the committee on Thursday. However, he wants the case to be examined by the Constitutional Court first. He doesn't plan to resign from his post if the court confirms that he's violated the law. He sees no reason for that, as the punishment would be to pay the fine. Kalinak conceded that he failed to carry out an obligation. He argued that he wanted to protect his family's privacy, that his incomes fully cover the value of the real estate and that his family were able to afford it with regards to his long-term business activities. BRATISLAVA - Peter Pellegrini hasn't yet managed to cast off the shadow of a coalition president, opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka said while assessing Pellegrini's first year in the office. According to Simecka, president should be an impartial representative of all citizens and a man who will stand up for those whom the government overlooks or oppresses. At the same time, the president should be the voice of culture, environmental protection, an advocate of public finances, and a dignified foreign policy. "Peter Pellegrini sometimes names problems, but more than just words are expected from the president - he is expected to act. He has the tools to do so: he can summon ministers, he has the mandate to act. I wish he would use this influence more actively and strive to really fix the government's actions in areas where it fails," stated Simecka. BRATISLAVA - The 18th package of sanctions against Russia is currently being examined by all relevant ministries, said Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) during Question Time in Parliament on Thursday. According to Blanar, the ministries are examining whether the measures will have a negative impact on Slovakia's economy and living standards. If everything goes smoothly, the conclusions should be prepared on Friday (13 June). The minister said that all measures of the 18th package will be thoroughly assessed and dealt with in line with the protection of Slovakia's national interests. Blanar also drew attention to the European Commission's proposal called RePower EU, which aims to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels. According to him, adopting this proposal would have catastrophic consequences not only for Slovakia, but also for the competitiveness of the European Union as such. ko