SUMMARY - Monday, 16 March 2026 - 5 p.m.

Bratislava, 16 March (TASR) - The Slovak government can't accept Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's unilateral and harmful decision to halt the transit of Russian oil, and it also expects European Union (EU) authorities to pressure the Ukrainian leadership to resume the flow of this oil, stated Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) following a telephone call with European Council (EC) President Antonio Costa on Monday regarding preparations for the EU leaders' summit in Brussels on 19 and 20 March. https://etasr.sk/article/23087096 Bratislava, 16 March (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) met ambassadors from European Union member states at the Government Office on Monday ahead of the upcoming European Council (EC) meeting, emphasising that the most serious problem facing the EU in terms of competitiveness is high energy prices, the Government Office reported on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/23086976 Bratislava, 16 March (TASR) - Head of the Agricultural Payment Agency (PPA) Marek Cepko has rejected claims made by the non-governmental Let's Stop Corruption Foundation that, prior to assuming his current post, he obtained a subsidy for a family farm despite violations of the Public Procurement Act, TASR learnt on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/23087136 Bratislava, 16 March (TASR) - The Let's Stop Corruption Foundation on Monday warned of possible irregularities in the allocation of EU funds from the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry's SocInoLab call, pointing out that several non-governmental organisations with personnel links to the governing Voice-SD party — of which Labour Minister Erik Tomas is also a member — succeeded in the call. https://etasr.sk/article/23087057 Bratislava, 16 March (TASR) - Bratislava Region Court on Monday ruled that police investigators Jan C. and Pavol D. [names abbreviated due to legal reasons] will be prosecuted at large, thus rejecting an appeal by a prosecutor from Trnava Region Prosecutor's Office, who had sought to have them remanded in custody. https://etasr.sk/article/23086848 Prague/Brussels, 16 March (TASR-correspondent) - The Czech Republic is prepared to head a mission of European experts to assess the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline in Ukraine, Czech Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlicek stated on Monday ahead of the EU Energy Council meeting in Brussels, emphasising that the dispute between Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovakia has become politicised and has reached an emotional level, and there's a need to begin addressing it objectively, TASR's special correspondent has reported. https://etasr.sk/article/23086907 Bratislava, 16 March (TASR) - Slovakia borrowed €643 million in the regular monthly government bond auction in March, with the average yield ranging from 3.05 percent p.a. to 4.24 percent p.a. and total demand from investors reaching €839 million, the Debt and Liquidity Management Agency (ARDAL) announced on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/23086801 Bratislava, 16 March (TASR) - The police have launched a criminal investigation into the signing of licensing agreements between public-broadcaster STVR and the Slovak Football Association (SFZ) that were signed by the broadcaster's interim director Igor Slanina shortly before he left the post, opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) chair Michal Simecka and vice-chair Zora Jaurova announced at a press conference on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/23087143 Bratislava, 16 March (TASR) - The junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) is opposed to releasing the EU's €90-billion loan for Ukraine and has called on Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) to block the loan at Monday's session of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, TASR was told by SNS spokesperson Zuzana Skopcova on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/23086942 Bratislava, 16 March (TASR) - Low-cost airline Wizz Air is expanding its destinations from M.R. Stefanik Airport in Bratislava by adding six previously announced regular routes, TASR has learnt from information published on the airport's website. https://etasr.sk/article/23086952 Bratislava, 16 March (TASR) - The Slovak Hospitals Association (ANS) has again criticised the Health Ministry's programme decree for 2026, warning that it doesn't reflect hospitals' actual needs when it comes to financing salary increases covered by law, ANS told TASR on Monday, adding that if no agreement is reached during upcoming talks with health-insurers, hospitals might activate a crisis plan. https://etasr.sk/article/23086823 Notice: If you click on the link or copy it into the search window, the browser will display the full text of the message in the new e-TASR client zone. If you have any questions, please contact obchod@tasr.sk. am