Bavarian Leader Urges Fico to Ensure that Slovakia Maintains Its Pro-EU Stance

Munich, 7 May (TASR) - During Thursday's meeting in Munich, Bavarian Minister-President Markus Soder strongly urged Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to ensure that Slovakia maintains its pro-European course, TASR has learnt from DPA news agency, citing a spokesperson for the Bavarian government and the Slovak Government Office. The Bavarian government also views Fico's recently announced plan to visit Ukraine as a positive signal. The Slovak premier described the meeting as open, constructive, and pragmatic, with both sides confirming their interest in strengthening mutual cooperation. "Despite our different political environments, we very quickly found common ground and established our relations on a rational and pragmatic level," stated Fico. A spokesperson for the Bavarian government stated that "the meeting was purely working in nature and took place at the request of the Slovak side". According to him, the meeting was held in close coordination with the German federal government. Fico and Soder discussed primarily economic issues. The Slovak premier also delivered a speech at the Slovak-Bavarian Business and Expert Conference, where he noted that a large portion of Slovak exports goes to Bavaria and that approximately 100 investors from Bavaria operate in Slovakia. am/mcs