MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, 18 January 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, 17 January): WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Energy Christopher A. Wright and Slovak Premier Robert Fico signed an inter-governmental agreement to advance cooperation on Slovakia’s civil nuclear power programme in Washington on Friday (16 January), TASR has reported based on a statement published by the US Department of Energy. This landmark agreement includes the development of a new, state-owned 1,200 MWh nuclear unit at the Jaslovske Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant, deepening the U.S.-Slovak strategic partnership and strengthening European energy security. These efforts lay the foundation for sustained U.S. engagement in Slovakia’s nuclear energy programme and support future civil nuclear projects across the region, reads the statement. "I see this moment as a significant milestone in our bilateral relations, but also as a clear signal that Slovakia and the United States are united by a common strategic thinking about the future of energy – about its safety, sustainability, and technological maturity," stated Fico after signing the agreement. WASHINGTON - Slovakia will be an exceptional country thanks to signing an inter-governmental agreement on the U.S.-Slovak civil nuclear power cooperation, since it will have experience with both Russian and US technologies in the field of civil nuclear energy, said Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) after its ceremonial signing in Washington on Friday (16 January), the Government Office's press department has informed TASR. The agreement was signed by Secretary of Energy Christopher A. Wright on the US part and Premier Fico on behalf of Slovakia. On this occasion, the premier thanked Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) for preparing the draft agreement. According to Fico, the agreement opens the door to negotiations on the supply of US nuclear technology to Slovakia with the aim of building and putting into operation in 2040-2041 a completely new nuclear power unit with an output of 1,200 MWh in premises of the current nuclear power plant in Jaslovske Bohunice. BRATISLAVA - The opposition 'Slovakia' party has criticised the US-Slovak inter-governmental agreement on the civil nuclear energy cooperation, as it is concerned about an extreme growth in Slovakia's indebtedness in connection with the planned construction of a new nuclear power unit in Jaslovske Bohunice. "Let's imagine that I, as a premier, would dare to decide on my own to pay €15 billion from all of our money for the construction of a nuclear power plant without organising any tender on it. And let's be honest - it won't be 15 billion, but many times more," party leader Igor Matovic told a news conference on Saturday. The party is afraid that the cost of a new nuclear power unit might climb to €50 billion due to the contractual price, construction cost overrun, interest and risk surcharge. "Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) photo with US President Donald Trump, which he longs for so desperately, will cost Slovakia €50 billion and will put the country in debt for generations," stated Matovic. BRATISLAVA - Speaking on STVR's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues), MP Marian Kery (Smer-SD) said that he's glad that the issue of extremism will be raised thanks to the coalition Slovak National Party (SNS); however, he isn't any fan of reducing sentences for extremist crimes. Kery said this in reaction to a draft amendment to the Penal Code submitted by SNS, which seeks lower criminal penalties for acts of extremism. He said that the issue will be the subject of debate within the coalition. "I am very happy that the issue of extremism will be raised thanks to the coalition partner, SNS. Let me add that I'm not any fan of reducing sentences for extremism. However, the problem lies elsewhere. We witnessed penal law being misused in a fight against political opponents in 2020-2023. I do mind that almost anything can be hidden behind the term extremism today and that politicians or people having a different opinion than the mainstream one are labelled extremists," stated Kery. His opponent on the show, opposition MP Juraj Krupa (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) thinks that the governing coalition is making changes to penal policy that could help its close people. He pointed out that the proposed change was opposed by Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka, churches and various organisations. ko