MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Tuesday, 3 March 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Monday, 2 March): BRATISLAVA - I want to discuss the resumption of oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline with European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a press conference on Monday, adding that he's initiating a meeting on this issue. According to the premier, this should precede negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He would consider a meeting between Slovakia, Hungary, and Ukraine at the European Commission with the commissioner and EC head present to be ideal. Fico wants to negotiate with Zelenskyy as soon as possible. According to him, the resumption of oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline isn't a Slovak-Ukrainian or Hungarian-Ukrainian problem in the current situation. "Today, it is a European-Ukrainian problem, and Europe must decide whose side it will be on; whether it will side with Ukraine and harm itself, because oil can most easily flow to us through this pipeline, or whether the European Union will finally recognise that Slovakia and Hungary are right on this issue," said Fico, adding that he considers the situation to be serious. He'd like to discuss it with the EC leadership within the next few days. BRATISLAVA - I currently see no reason to convene the Slovak Security Council regarding the situation in the Middle East, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a press conference on Monday, adding that the information that is being received at present is sufficient and up to date. "As we have very up-to-date information and know what is happening, I see no reason to convene the Security Council at this time just to satisfy some opposition MPs ... If necessary, I can convene the Security Council in three minutes. I sometimes consider it to be right to do less and do it well, rather than engaging in unnecessary media activities," stressed Fico. The premier also asked what the Security Council would change about the situation in Iran and the surrounding area. "I think that it's sufficient at the moment to receive relevant information from Tehran from our ambassador every morning. However, this will change shortly, as this ambassador will have to leave Iran for security reasons and go to Azerbaijan. But it is true that all other diplomats in the crisis area, whether they be in Tel Aviv, the United Arab Emirates or Lebanon, remain at their posts," he added. BRATISLAVA - In connection with the current security situation in Israel, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) has decided to close the Slovak Institute in Jerusalem on a temporary basis and to evacuate its staff to Slovakia via Jordan, the ministry's communications department told TASR on Monday, adding that the minister has also decided to evacuate the staff of the Slovak Embassy in the Iranian capital Tehran and send them to Baku in Azerbaijan. "We've been in contact with the heads of our diplomatic missions since the outbreak of the conflict. They've assured me that they and our colleagues at the embassies are safe and are monitoring the situation closely. They've also provided me with comprehensive information on current developments and measures taken in the countries where they operate to ensure the safety of Slovak citizens and the staff of our diplomatic missions," said Blanar, adding that no Slovaks have been reported among the injured so far. Slovakia's chief diplomat announced that he decided to close the Slovak Institute in Jerusalem on a temporary basis and evacuate its staff to Slovakia via Jordan. "Slovak Ambassador [to Israel] Barbara Mestanova also emphasised that the staff are acting in a disciplined manner and following the applicable security instructions," he added. The minister also decided to evacuate the staff of the Slovak Embassy in Tehran to Baku. "Slovak Ambassador to Iran Juraj Sivacek subsequently added that most of the representative offices of European Union member states are currently present in Tehran," he stated. BRATISLAVA - The Foreign and European Affairs Ministry has reported that approximately 5,000 Slovak citizens in the Middle East have registered on the ministry's website to request assistance, Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) told a press conference on Monday, noting that all of them are interested in returning to Slovakia. The minister added that it won't be possible to transport all of these people due to capacity reasons, and that the repatriation flights will primarily focus on mothers with children and sick people. He asked other Slovak citizens to be patient. "We're monitoring everyone who registers and are urging them to indicate their status. This allows us to assess their situation, which may be critical. We want to address this primarily in terms of evacuation flights, whether they are mothers with children or sick people who need to be moved quickly in some way," said the minister. BRATISLAVA - Following the official appointment of the new minority Dutch government, the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry, on the instructions of minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD), summoned Dutch Ambassador to Slovakia Jules Gerzon on Monday to protest against the part of the coalition agreement that describes Slovakia as a country that allegedly "actively undermines Europe". Slovakia views this description as unacceptable interference in its internal affairs and strongly objects to it, the ministry's communications department has informed TASR. "Even before the appointment of the new minority government in the Netherlands, Slovak diplomacy transparently communicated its reservations to its Dutch partners through standard diplomatic channels, along with a call for an open dialogue on these claims. Unfortunately, there has been no adequate response from the Dutch side, which left the false claims in the coalition agreement," stated the ministry. GALANTA - A detached workplace of the labour office will be created on Samsung's premises in Galanta (Trnava region), Labour Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) told a news conference on Monday. The labour office staff, in cooperation with recruitment agencies, will offer available job vacancies to employees of the TV set manufacturing plant, which is due to be closed down. Tomas pointed to the low unemployment rate in the affected districts. Of the 19,000 job vacancies in Trnava region, 11,000 are suitable for Samsung employees. "We have jobs for Slovak citizens. Carmakers have told us that they'll give jobs to Slovak nationals even at the expense of foreign workers," he said. The minister criticised opposition statements concerning the announced closure of the Galanta plant, stressing that, according to the South-Korean company itself, the decision isn't related to the business environment in Slovakia or government measures. Preliminary data indicates that the unemployment rate in Slovakia fell in February, added Tomas. ko