MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, 6 December 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, 5 December): PRESOV/BRATISLAVA – Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) and his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha opened the Consulate General of Ukraine in Presov on Friday and unveiled its official plaque. "We are opening this Consulate General in a difficult situation, as Russian aggression against Ukraine continues, and what we are doing – our defence – we are doing for our common European home, not only for ourselves. The Ukrainian nation is defending shared European values. This is also recognition of Slovakia's role, the role of your country. From the very first moment you have stood with us during the brutal Russian aggression against Ukraine. You opened your homes and your hearts to our people. We appreciate it greatly, and it is truly an invaluable contribution," Sybiha said. "Today around 40,000 Ukrainian citizens live in the Presov Region, which is a large number. For Ukraine, one of the priorities is to secure the rights of our compatriots, provide them with necessary services, make their lives easier, and be closer to them. It also represents a new point of cooperation between our two countries," Sybiha added. In his remarks, Blanar expressed solidarity with the suffering Ukrainian people. He assured the Ukrainian foreign minister that Slovakia will always remember their hardship and continue doing its utmost to help alleviate it. "After the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine, Slovaks opened their arms, and in the early period more than 2,000,000 refugees from Ukraine passed through Slovakia. Many decided to stay, and Slovaks generously provided their homes so they could live through this difficult time in at least dignified conditions. In the Presov Region alone there are 40,000 Ukrainians, but according to our statistics, which change constantly, we have around 160,000 to 170,000 Ukrainians living in Slovakia," Blanar said. The Consulate General in Presov operated until 2014. Its reopening, he added, proves that Ukraine seeks to take care of its citizens living in Slovakia, and likewise that Slovakia wants to provide good conditions for Ukrainian citizens residing in the country. BRATISLAVA - Slovak IT security company Eset has strongly objected to claims made by former deputy premier for the recovery plan and a knowledge-based economy Peter Kmec (Voice-SD) in response to the widely reported case of the National Innovation and Technology Centre (NITC) in Voderady (Trnava region), TASR reported on Friday. Kmec stated on a social network that the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party wanted to build an innovation centre for €700 million in Bratislava and "pass the deal over to its donors from Eset". "Eset isn't aware of the said project or involved in it, nor does it have any plans to create any innovation centre together with the state," stated Eset. On the contrary, the company is preparing to build, with its own resources and without any support from the state or taxpayers' money, its own headquarters around which an innovation ecosystem is to be built with the aim of strengthening Slovakia's innovation potential. "We welcome the initiatives of state institutions aimed at strengthening Slovakia's competitiveness, and we'd be pleased to see more such projects in Slovakia. However, they should be implemented transparently, economically, and without unnecessarily spreading lies about companies such as Eset, which has been actively engaged in and supporting science, research and education for decades without state aid," the company added. BRATISLAVA – Although Voice-SD has submitted an amendment to the bill setting up a new office to replace the Whistleblowers Protection Office (UOO), problematic parts remain, MP Maria Kolikova (Freedom and Solidarity) warned on Friday. Voice-SD lawmakers have introduced a change intended to align the new legislation with an EU directive. Kolikova pointed out that the bill still aims to replace the UOO leadership, with its head to be selected by the House chair. She added that the amendment continues to allow a review of protection granted to whistleblowers who have already received protected status. She doesn't believe that the concerns raised by the European Commission have been resolved. "They didn't say a word about the reasons, only that it relates to the concerns of the European Commission. Many toxic elements have been removed from the bill, but as the bill is more or less toxic as a whole, much of it remains. There are still two key problems," said Kolikova at a press conference on Friday in response to the Voice-SD amendment. According to her, changing the UOO leadership goes against a key principle that the institution must be independent and trusted by whistleblowers. Freedom and Solidarity considers the proposal to be in conflict with European law. "The problem remains that it's possible to review the protection of whistleblowers who have already been granted protection status," said Kolikova of the second major issue. She argued that it isn't true that the amendment restores the previous wording of legislation governing UOO. The granting of protection may already be reviewed under current law, she said. The amendment was submitted by Voice-SD MP Richard Elias on Thursday (4 December). It aims to remove the condition that protection must be linked to "serious anti-social activity committed by a person with whom the whistleblower has or had an employment or similar relationship". It would also delete provisions allowing employers to "request a superior prosecutor to review the justification for continued protection granted within criminal proceedings, as well as request a superior administrative authority to review the justification for continued protection granted during administrative offence proceedings". MPs have been debating the bill for a second week via a fast-tracked legislative procedure. More than 40 speakers have registered in writing for the second-reading debate. Friday's session remains dedicated solely to this bill. VATICAN/ROME - Slovak President Peter Pellegrini met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Friday to discuss global and European developments, with Pellegrini at a briefing held on Friday praising Meloni for her leadership under which Italy is beginning to play a more serious role in European politics. Their meeting also touched on the current situation in Ukraine and immobilised Russian assets. "We spoke about how, if and when to use or not use frozen assets, so that Europe doesn't lose a negotiating position," said Pellegrini, who also highlighted Meloni's stances. "I've been saying and publicly presenting this for a long time - that on many issues and stances, I agree with the prime minister," he added, praising the fact that Slovakia and Italy have currently formed some sort of a coalition. According to him, Slovakia sees an ally in Italy, for example, as regards positions on the Green Deal and the new European emissions trading system (ETS2). He believes that his meeting with Meloni on Friday has helped to strengthen the relations between the two countries. VIENNA - Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) at a meeting of the Friends of the Western Balkans group in Vienna on Thursday (4 December) confirmed Slovakia's support for the EU-integration processes of the countries of the region, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's communications department has informed TASR. The meeting took place during the 32nd session of the Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The progress made by the Western Balkan countries in the process of gradual integration into the EU, defining priorities for further steps in the context of the current security situation in Europe, and effective communication on EU enlargement were high on the agenda of the meeting. A working dinner dedicated to energy and security issues was held as part of the meeting. According to Blanar, Slovakia has been a long-term and consistent supporter of the Western Balkan countries' EU-integration process at both the political and expert levels. "This has been confirmed by the results of the August Eurobarometer survey, which showed that Slovakia is among the EU countries with the highest level of support for EU enlargement to include candidate states from the Western Balkans," stated the head of Slovak diplomacy. Blanar at the meeting highlighted the concept of gradual integration as a practical tool that might accelerate the countries' approach to full EU membership. He also pointed to the importance of the European Commission's regular evaluation reports on Western Balkan countries. "These documents represent extremely useful guidance for the period of the following year, whether directly in accession talks or during preparations for them," said the minister. Blanar also stressed the need to show concrete results of reform efforts and the benefits of integration. "The best approach is to demonstrate that the results of transformation and integration efforts pay off. At the same time, we should actively use the positive examples of Montenegro and Albania," said Blanar, adding that there's a need to pay special attention to countries that are lagging behind in the process and to seek solutions to unblock further progress in cooperation with all parties concerned. 'Friends of the Western Balkans' is an informal grouping that was established in July 2023 at the initiative of Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. Its members are Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Austria, Slovenia and Italy. The grouping aims to support the accelerated accession process of Western Balkan countries into the EU through enhanced cooperation and political dialogue, as well as through the provision of investment and grant support. Slovakia is an active member of the group, and, according to Blanar, it's ready to host a meeting of its members in the first half of 2026. mf