SUMMARY - Thursday, 19 March 2026 - 9 p.m.

Brussels, 19 March (TASR-correspondent) - During Thursday's discussion on Ukraine in Brussels, leaders of European Union (EU) member states focused exclusively on the blocked €90 billion loan to Kiev and the suspension of oil supplies to Slovakia and Hungary via the Druzhba oil pipeline, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated on Thursday, adding that no progress has been made on either issue. https://etasr.sk/article/23097392 Rome, 19 March (TASR) - Italy has paid a tremendous tribute to Slovakia and one of the greatest figures in Slovak history, Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova, and Vice-Premier and Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (both Slovak National Party/SNS nominees) concurred following the unveiling of a bust of Milan Rastislav Stefanik at the Campo Verano military cemetery in Rome on Thursday. https://etasr.sk/article/23097183 Bratislava, 19 March (TASR) - The integration of the Western Balkan states into the European Union (EU) is a strategic priority for Slovakia and it is also a key prerequisite for strengthening stability, security, and prosperity in Europe, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) stated on Thursday at a conference on the Western Balkans and the future of the continent, TASR was told by the ministry's communications department. https://etasr.sk/article/23097587 Bratislava, 19 March (TASR) - The maximum limit of €400 per refuelling would fill less than 20 percent of a lorry's fuel tank in some cases, and it's therefore unsustainable for freight and bus transport, the Cesmad Slovakia association of road carriers posted on a social network on Thursday in response to the government's adoption of the regulation. https://etasr.sk/article/23097063 Bratislava, 19 March (TASR) - MPs of the opposition Christian Democrats (KDH), Progressive Slovakia (PS) and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) parties at a press conference in Parliament on Thursday said that they are jointly calling for an extraordinary meeting of the House economic committee, adding that it's scheduled to take place within seven days, and its topic will be the fuel situation in Slovakia and the government's approach in this area, which is chaotic and ill-conceived. https://etasr.sk/article/23096868 Bratislava, 19 March (TASR) – Opposition parties have criticised the coalition Voice-SD's last-minute attempt to address rising lump-sum allowances for government members, calling it further evidence of the cabinet's chaotic governance. https://etasr.sk/article/23096816 Galanta, 19 March (TASR) - The Labour Office in Galanta district (Trnava region) has recorded another round of mass lay-offs following the ones at Samsung, the press and communications department of the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Centre told TASR on Thursday, adding that a total of 228 jobs are at risk at a company that manufactures plastic components. https://etasr.sk/article/23096720 Bratislava, 19 March (TASR) – Coalition party Voice-SD will propose freezing lump-sum allowances for members of the government, said Labour Minister and Voice-SD vice-chair Erik Tomas during Question Time in Parliament on Thursday. https://etasr.sk/article/23096797 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