MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Wednesday, 28 January 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Tuesday, 27 January): BRATISLAVA - Slovakia will file a lawsuit with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) against the RePowerEU regulation, which will ban imports of natural gas from Russia as of November 2027, Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a news conference on Tuesday, adding that Slovakia will challenge the legislation for violating the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. "We'll seek to have this regulation declared to be in contradiction with the fundamental principles on which the European Union is based," said Fico. Hungary, which also voted against the regulation, intends to file the same lawsuit. According to the premier, it's impossible to submit a joint lawsuit, so each country will file one separately. "However, it is absolutely normal for us to coordinate the arguments and reasoning behind these lawsuits. An intensive exchange of information is already taking place, and we'll decide on the course of action at the government session," he added. BRATISLAVA - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a news conference on Tuesday that Slovakia should turn down the invitation to join the Board of Peace. "We're not in favour of the creation of any parallel structures about which we don't know everything," stated Fico, who also disagrees with the billion-dollar membership fee and with scrapping existing international institutions. The government will deal with the issue at its regular session on Wednesday (28 January). "I think that the Slovak Republic should decline with great gratitude this invitation and not pursue it any further. Nevertheless, Slovakia will be among the countries that have always called and will always call for peace," stressed Fico. "Existing international institutions, such as the UN, should be reformed, not scrapped," stated the premier. "Slovakia has a huge interest in becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2028-2029, and during all our visits we ask our partners to support our membership," he said. BRATISLAVA - President Peter Pellegrini on Tuesday handed over credentials to Fedor Rosocha, the new head of the Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva. The ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace. The head of state expects Rosocha to contribute to Slovakia's involvement in UN reform processes. "You will be part of efforts to advance Slovakia's aim to obtain a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2028 to 2029 and our candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council for 2032 to 2034," Pellegrini said in his address. BRATISLAVA - Parliamentary vice-chair Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) submitted an amending proposal to the parliamentary Rules of Procedure at a session on Tuesday, backed by coalition MPs. The amending proposal is expected to introduce several changes. The length of time for debate on a particular item would be set at a maximum of 37.5 hours as of now. This time would be divided among parliamentary caucuses and non-affiliated MPs. Parliament could, at the proposal of at least two parliamentary groups, decide to shorten or extend the time limit. "The length of time for debate may not be shorter than 12.5 hours," the proposal states. According to the proposal, MPs would be able to register for debate from its beginning, during its course until its conclusion, including repeatedly. An MP would be able to register even if their parliamentary caucus has already exhausted its allotted time, in particular for the purpose of subsequently submitting a written speech or an amending proposal. The amending proposal also introduces changes to speaking time. The proposer and the rapporteur would have a maximum of ten minutes for introductory and closing remarks, and up to 40 minutes in the debate. The proposal also addresses the behaviour of MPs. It specifies undesirable conduct and tightens penalties. "The chair will first call on the offending MP to maintain order. If the call does not lead to correction, the chair will expel the MP. Expulsion of an MP for disrupting order at a session will no longer be sanctioned by one unexcused day at the session, but by the loss of one monthly salary including flat-rate allowances and bonuses," the proposal states. BRATISLAVA - Independent MP Rastislav Kratky, formerly of the 'Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus, will join the parliamentary caucus of the Christian Democrats (KDH), according to KDH chairman Milan Majersky, who spoke about this at a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday. Kratky was expelled from the opposition 'Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus after voting in favour of the government's amendment to the Constitution in the autumn of 2025, despite having previously announced that he wouldn't do so. Although he isn't joining KDH as a member yet, Kratky will assist the caucus in drawing up KDH's economic and social programme. With Kratky on board, KDH's caucus will now consist of 12 members. "Partly thanks to cooperating with MP Kratky, I am convinced that KDH will present the best economic and social programme for Slovakia," said Majersky. BRATISLAVA - Ambulance services could fall under the remit of hospitals with accident and emergency departments, according to a plan of changes to the emergency medical services (EMS) system presented by Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) at a press conference on Tuesday. Sasko said that hospitals would be able to choose how they operate ambulance services, with three options available, but the responsibility for both choosing the model and for actually operating the service would always lie with the hospital. According to Sasko, comprehensive legislation would be prepared on the basis of a broad expert discussion, while the plan has already won support among experts and politicians. A hospital could operate the services itself and in its own name, or via an entity set up by the hospital with 100-percent ownership. Sasko said that the state already has such entities set up, i.e. ZZS Bratislava and the Kosice Emergency Medical Service, which will be supplemented by an integrated rescue system. ko