MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Wednesday, 17 December 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Tuesday, 16 December): BRATISLAVA - Prosecutor-General (PG) Maros Zilinka has pointed to the harm that could be caused by the changes to the Penal Code approved by Parliament last week. In a post published on a social network, Zilinka urged President Peter Pellegrini to consider returning the law to MPs, adding that he fully respects the constitutional position and powers of the president. "The president will thoroughly familiarise himself with the approved wording of the law and decide within the deadline set by the Constitution," the President's Office has told TASR. Parliament passed an amendment to the Penal Code via a short-track legislative procedure. It reintroduces the three-strikes rule for petty theft, with repeat offenders becoming criminally liable in the case of repeated thefts. Offenders should be sent to prison for two years after committing a similar offence against property three times within one year. It also addresses the issue of cooperating defendants, whose testimonies may no longer be considered credible in court proceedings. DUBNICA NAD VAHOM - A new automated line for producing large-calibre artillery ammunition was put in operation at ZVS Holding in Dubnica nad Vahom (Trencin region) on Tuesday with Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) in attendance. This most modern line of its kind in Europe will contribute significantly towards increasing the production capacity in Dubnica nad Vahom to some 280,000 155-millimetre ammunition shells annually. "The new line will ensure that Slovakia will become a leader in terms of the amount of large-calibre ammunition produced. We'll be in the top five worldwide, maybe in second place in Europe. We'll produce 1 million shells within Slovak capacities next year. This clearly speaks of the way in which we have a chance to help the Slovak economy," stressed the minister. The new filling line will significantly strengthen the capacities of artillery ammunition and is a highly automated solution with controlled heating of the ammunition body and precise amounts of explosives. The line allows ammunition with calibres from 81 to 155 millimetres to be filled. Operating conditions allow for two shifts seven days a week. The total investments in ZVS holding in Dubnica nad Vahom, including the line and facilities, amounted to almost €100 million. BRUSSELS/BRATISLAVA - Slovakia does not consider the concessions on the ETS 2 emissions trading scheme to be sufficient, Environment Minister Tomas Taraba declared on Tuesday in Brussels after the meeting of the EU Environment Council, a special TASR correspondent reported on the same day. The EU emissions trading system, which is to be extended to building heating and road transport (ETS 2) as of 2027, was the most important item on the agenda of the ministers' meeting, Taraba said. He pointed out that although the European Commission has indicated a postponement of the entry into force of ETS 2, Slovakia does not regard these concessions as adequate. "We do not believe that the declared effort to release larger volumes of emission allowances onto the market will ensure any stabilisation of prices in the future. Our position, as well as that of Hungary, the Czech Republic and other countries, is that we have declared an intention to withdraw from ETS 2," Taraba said. BRATISLAVA - President Peter Pellegrini and his Croatian counterpart Zoran Milanovic will closely monitor this week's talks between European leaders, with Milanovic stating that the European Union faces major decisions and Pellegrini describing the agenda as very important, according to their statements after meeting at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava on Tuesday. The two heads of state also confirmed that Croatia and Slovakia enjoy friendly relations. "I spoke with the president about various current issues. We discussed the situation in Ukraine and the current state of negotiations between the United States, Ukraine and the Russian Federation, but we also discussed what Wednesday's (17 December) meeting of the European Council will look like and what stances will be presented by the individual prime ministers or presidents of member states. The agenda of tomorrow's European Council is very important, and we'll be watching very closely how all this turns out," said Pellegrini. He added that he'd confirmed for Milanovic that for Slovakia, enlarging the European Union to include Western Balkan countries is a major priority. According to Pellegrini, both heads of state also share an interest in ending the war in Ukraine as soon as possible. BRATISLAVA - Protests are taking place in Bratislava, Kosice, Banska Bystrica and other Slovak cities on Tuesday evening. The protesters aim to express dissatisfaction with the latest steps taken by the governing coalition, such as the adoption of an amendment to the Criminal Code, changes to the Criminal Procedure Code, and the transformation of the Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers into a new authority. The rallies are organised by the opposition's Progressive Slovakia together with other opposition parties, the Christian Democratic Movement, Freedom and Solidarity, and the extra-parliamentary Democrats. Speeches were delivered also by representatives of the 'For the People' party, and chair of the extra-parliamentary Hungarian Alliance Laszlo Gubik. "Robert Fico and his government are pushing Slovakia towards a mafia-style governance. Right now is the moment when we as a society must exert maximum pressure and clearly say that we will not tolerate the abduction of the state," said Progressive Slovakia leader Michal Simecka. BRATISLAVA - Key issues of European and foreign policy, including the forthcoming multiannual financial framework, EU enlargement, energy security and the current security situation in Europe, were discussed by Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) with ambassadors of EU member states and the head of the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia. As TASR learnt from the ministry's press department, the meeting took place in Bratislava on Tuesday, at the initiative of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU. "The European Union is our living space. We want to be perceived in the debate on the future of the Union as a constructive partner that openly communicates its sovereign positions while at the same time seeking common European solutions," Blanar said. Part of the meeting focused on EU enlargement and the future of Europe. The minister reiterated Slovakia's support for continuing the enlargement process based on the merits of candidate countries. According to him, EU enlargement must remain a rules-based process without shortcuts. BRATISLAVA - The Judicial Council on Tuesday elected former Justice Ministry deputy minister Katarina Roskovanyi as a candidate for judge at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), TASR learnt on the same day. Twelve members of the Judicial Council present voted in her favour. Roskovanyi's candidacy must still be approved by the government, along with the candidacies of Branislav Jablonka and Ondrej Laciak, who were elected by the Judicial Council at its June session. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will then elect a new ECHR judge for Slovakia from a list of three candidates submitted by the Slovak government. Roskovanyi was nominated as an ECHR judge candidate by Judicial Council member Peter Samko. Judicial Council member Dana Jelinkova Dudzikova also sought the candidacy, nominated by Judicial Council chair Marcela Kosova, Judicial Council member Lubos Kunay, as well as the Association of Judges of Slovakia. At its June session, the Judicial Council elected two of the three nominated candidates for ECHR judge, Branislav Jablonka and Ondrej Laciak. It did not elect current European prosecutor Juraj Novocky. jrg