Premier: Entrepreneurs Should Cooperate with Government, Not Fight It

Bratislava, 26 May (TASR) - Business leaders should cooperate with the government, not fight against it, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated in Bratislava on Tuesday during the ceremonial part of the delegates' assembly of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SOPK), which was also attended by Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD). "Let's cooperate, not fight. Either we talk to each other and seek solutions, or we'll end up in conflict," he said. The premier called on the chamber's representatives to work together to find solutions to problems that plague not only Slovakia but also Europe as a whole. In his speech, he emphasised that 65 percent of sole traders haven't paid a single euro in taxes, that the shadow economy amounts to €17 billion, and that the amount of value-added tax (VAT) collected is running a 10-percent deficit. These are all economic problems that the government must address. "In Slovakia, not paying taxes is a national sport," said Fico. The prime minister stressed that Slovakia is in a stable environment and has potential. "I can't accept the fact that Slovakia is a black hole in which nothing works and nothing moves forward. In 2025, in absolute terms, people had the highest incomes in Slovakia's history. Unemployment is below 4 percent. Inflation over the past 15 months is at its lowest level," he stated. Fico underscored that the most fundamental problem for the EU's competitiveness is the price of electricity. "It's the most urgent problem," he emphasised, criticising the emissions trading system, which, he said, doesn't help the European business environment. Fico noted that up to 85 percent of Slovakia's electricity is generated without emissions, and that the Slovakia is a net exporter of electricity to other countries. "I consider completing the construction of the third and fourth units at the Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant to be one of the best decisions we've made. We're planning a new nuclear unit in Jaslovske Bohunice," he said, adding that if data centres, artificial intelligence and electromobility are to develop, Slovakia won't be able to manage without new sources of electricity. The economy minister stated that economic security is becoming the main subject of discussions in Brussels. "It isn't energy security, but economic security that is now a more resonant topic within the European Union, mainly due to the conflict in the Middle East," she noted. According to Sakova, the European Commission (EC) has alerted member states to rising costs in maritime and air transport. She also highlighted delays in supplies of critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements. "As a solution, the EC has emphasised the need across the entire European Union to diversify supply chains, to begin supporting domestic production, and thus contribute towards making the European Union more self-sufficient," added the economy minister. am/df