MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, 4 October 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, 3 October): BRATISLAVA – The time has come to tighten the rules for social enterprises which serve a beneficial purpose by employing disadvantaged people, as various speculative practices have emerged, said Labour Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) at a press conference on Friday, noting that these rules have been in place for seven years. "The aim is to tighten the rules so that social enterprises do not distort the market or undermine public tenders or other forms of competition. Yet, on the other hand, we must ensure we do not stifle them, as they genuinely provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities or otherwise disadvantaged people," explained Tomas. The first of the proposed changes concerns the so-called integration enterprises which prepare the disadvantaged people for the open labour market, rather than providing permanent employment. If such enterprises fail to accomplish this task, they will have to return a proportional part of the compensatory contribution they received from the state. "If this happens on a repeated basis, their status as social enterprise will be revoked, and the enterprise will effectively cease its operations," he added. BRATISLAVA – The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party calls on the Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation Ministry (MIRRI) and Vice-premier for the Recovery Plan Peter Kmec (Voice-SD) to halt the procurement of the state's IT systems worth €80 million, said PS MP Jan Hargas at a press conference on Friday. According to him, the process is non-transparent and the price is being gradually increased. Also, the state is procuring systems it does not even need. "Only recently, the informatisation ministry launched more than ten public tenders for IT systems, which are essentially intended to replace the state's central portal Slovensko.sk," said Hargas, adding that the cost has increased sharply from €60 million to €80 million, in a time when consolidation of public finances is in progress. Hargas also warned about non-transparent approach to the contract which will affect the functioning of the state. He added there was no expert discussion or evaluation taking place in expert groups or forums which have been set up for this purpose. IT systems are procured by MIRRI through the dynamic purchasing system which is typically used for commonly available goods such as office supplies or furniture. GENOA/MILAN – President Peter Pellegrini delivered an address during the opening ceremony of the Liguria–Slovakia business conference on Thursday (2 October) in Genoa, Italy, Presidential Office's communications department informed TASR on Friday, adding that he also opened the Honorary Consulate in the same city. Pellegrini said that Slovakia is interested in Liguria's experience, in particular as regards technology, robotics and artificial intelligence, which can contribute to the diversification of its economy. With "Connections and Opportunities" as its theme, the conference focused on technology, innovation, tourism and transport, being a platform for building new partnerships between Slovak and Italian companies, research institutions and universities. Pellegrini therefore welcomed the direct participation of Slovak institutions, especially the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the representatives of Slovak businesses who presented the outcomes of their projects and innovations together with the Italian Institute of Technology. BRATISLAVA/TEL AVIV - Slovak Ambassador to Israel Barbara Mestanova held talks on Friday at the detention centre where a Slovak national is held after being detained from a vessel intercepted by Israel on Thursday (2 October), the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry informed on Friday, adding that Mestanova also met with the Slovak national in person. "We can confirm that this person is Peter Svestka. The Slovak embassy is also in contact with his family, providing consular assistance within the scope of its legal competences," the ministry added. According to the website of the Global Sumud Flotilla, Svestka was on board one of the vessels that attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and break Israel's blockade on the Palestinian enclave which has been in place since 2007. From Wednesday evening (1 October), the Israeli Navy intercepted most of the flotilla's vessels. The Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry announced on Thursday (2 October) that it is in close contact with Israel's Foreign Ministry. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini is also actively following the case RIGA - Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar visited Slovak soldiers deployed within NATO's Multinational Brigade at the Adazi training camp during his working trip to Latvia on Friday, the ministry's communications department informed TASR on the same day. In Riga, Blanar said the Slovak government submitted to Parliament a proposal this year to extend the mandate of the Slovak military contingent in Latvia, which was approved unanimously. According to him, this decision is an important signal of Slovakia's solidarity towards NATO and particularly Latvia, despite the difficult challenges Slovakia is now facing when consolidating its public finances. "This decision confirms that the Slovak Republic stands firmly by its allies and is ready to actively contribute to the Alliance's collective defence. Solidarity and cooperation are the pillars on which the security and prosperity of the European continent are built," said Blanar. NOVA BANA - Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) announced a €33 million investment in wastewater treatment and sewerage infrastructure in central Slovakia, TASR learnt from Taraba's press conference in Nova Bana (Banska Bystrica region) on Friday. Almost 50 kilometres of sewer pipelines will be built to connect more than 5,500 residents to the public sewer system. Applications for subsidies were submitted to the ministry by the Central Slovak Water Management Company (STVS) for three projects in the municipalities of Nova Bana - Brehy, Hlinik nad Hronom - Dolna Zdana and Diviaky nad Nitricou - Diviacka Nova Ves and Diviaky nad Nitricou. According to STVS general director Vladimir Svrbicky, the projects will allow for safe disposal of wastewater and its treatment in newly built or upgraded wastewater treatment plants. jrg