SUMMARY - Monday, 1 December 2025 - 9 p.m.

Bratislava, 1 December (TASR) - Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) on Monday presented a draft amendment to the drugs policy, which should streamline the management of new drugs entering the market, make drugs for children and patients with serious illnesses more accessible, and adjust the conditions for reimbursing the cost of drugs on an exceptional basis. https://etasr.sk/article/22713483 Bratislava, 1 December (TASR) - Vice-chair of the parliamentary health-care committee Oskar Dvorak (Progressive Slovakia/PS) criticised Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) for presenting a draft amendment to the drug policy too late, TASR has learnt at his press conference on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/22713749 Bratislava, 1 December (TASR) - Pope Leo XIV will receive President Peter Pellegrini for a private audience on Thursday (4 December), TASR was told by the President's Office's communications department on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/22713396 Bratislava, 1 December (TASR) - In view of current events in the coalition and Parliament, chairman of the junior governing Voice-SD party Matus Sutaj Estok has requested that a coalition council meeting should be convened at the level of the chairmen of the coalition parties, the Voice-SD press department told TASR on Monday, adding that the meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday (2 December) at 1.30 p.m. in the Parliament building. https://etasr.sk/article/22713588 Bratislava, 1 December (TASR) - The ban on the production and sale of cars with combustion engines after 2035 is harmful for Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a press conference on Monday, reacting to the European Commission's (EC) plan to ban combustion engines after 2035 as part of its climate protection efforts. https://etasr.sk/article/22713443 Kosice, 1 December (TASR) - In the three months since the Employment Services Act including the 'Work Instead of Benefits' initiative entered into force, 860 people have been successfully placed on the labour market, while 38 people are taking up duties as Roma assistants for social inclusion and employment at 17 labour offices starting as of Monday, Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Erik Tomas and Government Proxy for Roma Communities Alexander Dasko told a press conference held in Kosice. https://etasr.sk/article/22713344 Bratislava, 1 December (TASR) - The bill on setting up the new Crime Victim and Whistleblower Protection Office does not contain any provision concerning changes in the system for the protection of victims of crimes, and doesn't even strengthen or increase its effectiveness, TASR has learnt from Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka's social media post published on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/22713533 Bratislava, 1 December (TASR) - The government's proposed amendment to the Penal Code is insufficient and won't be enough to halt the rise in crime, MP Branislav Vanco (Progressive Slovakia/PS) stated at a press conference on Monday, adding that the government has proposed a return to the so-called 'Horalky clause' [a 'three strikes and you're out' principle - ed.note] to show that it's at least doing something. https://etasr.sk/article/22713664 Bratislava, 1 December (TASR) - MPs concluded Monday's session with a debate on a proposal for a fast-tracked legislative procedure on the government's amendment to the Penal Code. https://etasr.sk/article/22713785 Notice: If you click on the link or copy it into the search window, the browser will display the full text of the message in the new e-TASR client zone. If you have any questions, please contact obchod@tasr.sk. am