MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Wednesday, 17 June 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Tuesday, 16 June): BRATISLAVA - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a news conference on Tuesday that he doesn't find it necessary to apologise to the family of Progressive Slovakia (PS) chair Michal Simecka in connection with the accounting case involving the Projekt Forum NGO, as he sees no reason to do so. According to Fico, a new government audit is being prepared, which, after it is processed over the summer, will point to additional invoicing errors at NGOs. "We'll continue to carry out oversight through standard government audits. The one that is currently ongoing, in my opinion, will bring shocking conclusions concerning other NGOs, because that's how they lived. That was their way of life, living off subsidies," stated Fico. The premier added that if government audits find any irregularities, the public will be informed [about them]. He stated that government politicians won't back down simply because the opposition points to their nominees for posts. BRATISLAVA - The Institute of Political Sciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) will cease to exist, according to a decision approved by the SAV Congress on Tuesday. This is part of a move to reorganise SAV's workplaces, which the academy is implementing based on a government resolution from 2024. According to SAV's website, MEP for Smer-SD Lubos Blaha has been working there. In line with the resolution, the institute should go into liquidation in early 2027, SAV spokesman Jozef Bednar has informed TASR. "The obligation to merge applies to SAV organisations that are among the smallest within the academy. These are institutes with an average of less than 20 full-time employees, placing them among the bottom 15 percent of SAV research organisations according to this size criterion. With such a size, it is difficult to ensure all the legal conditions for running a public research institution in the long term and at the same time to maintain high-quality scientific outputs," explained SAV vice-chairman for science, research and innovations Tomas Hromadka. "This decision isn't about one institute or individuals. Rather, it reflects SAV's long-term commitment to modernising its structure so that the academy as a whole can continue to meet the terms of performance contracts in the long term and maintain stable funding in the coming years. Without systemic changes, SAV as a whole would risk losing a significant portion of the additional funds that are crucial for developing science in Slovakia today," added SAV chairman Martin Venhart. BRATISLAVA - As of 15 June, direct payments amounting to €582.8 million had been paid out to farmers within the 2025 campaign, making up 97.89 percent of the total package of €595.4 million, Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) told a news conference on Tuesday. Farmers received €390.2 million (98.43 percent) under the first pillar, while €192.6 million (96.49 percent) was paid out under the second pillar. An amount of €12.6 million is still to be disbursed, therefore. According to Takac, Slovakia isn't facing a penalty from the EU, as Brussels rules require at least 95 percent of payments to be made by the end of June. "The remaining €12.6 million concerns some 200 farmers who have already received advance payments but are still undergoing checks. There are certain findings that need to be assessed, so not only the Agricultural Payment Agency (PPA) but also the other organisations that help us are still carrying out checks so that we can pay out more than €12 million," he said. PRAGUE/BRATISLAVA - The closer cooperation between the Slovakia and Czech Parliaments in place since the current Czech government took office has already produced tangible results, said Slovak House chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) after meeting his Czech counterpart Tomio Okamura in Prague on Tuesday, TASR has learnt from its special correspondent. The two officials announced a parliamentary student exchange programme, the creation of a joint award recognising individuals who have contributed to close Czech-Slovak relations, and plans for further meetings. According to Rasi, parliamentary leaders are meeting more frequently, and efforts to support young people are also progressing. As an example, he noted that a model Czech parliament, inspired by Slovakia's existing initiative, will be symbolically established on Wednesday. The politicians also signed a memorandum setting up a Czech-Slovak Mutuality Award. Rasi said that the Slovak Parliament will nominate a person to be honoured on behalf of the Czech nation, while the Czech Parliament will propose a candidate from among people who have lived and worked in Slovakia. BRATISLAVA - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Amazing Slovakia exhibition during a gala dinner attended by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and House chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) at the historic National Council building in Bratislava. Modi was accompanied by the exhibition's creator, photographer Filip Kulisev. "The exhibition of 21 large-format photographs showcasing Slovakia's most beautiful natural landscapes and historic landmarks attracted Prime Minister Modi's keen interest, which I greatly appreciate. He was also very impressed by the concept of the EARTH exhibition in India," Slovak photographer and traveller Filip Kulisev said, commenting on the meeting. "At the same time, he asked whether I could photograph and film his hometown of Vadnagar in the state of Gujarat as part of the project. India fascinates me because of its diverse nature. I am planning my first visit to the country at the end of this year," Kulisev added. BRATISLAVA - Social insurance should no longer function merely as a passive mechanism for distributing benefits and compensating for problems and damages that have already occurred, according to a new doctrine on the social-insurance system that Trade Union Confederation president Monika Uhlerova officially presented at a press conference on Tuesday. A modern and sustainable system must actively help people to remain in good health, stay economically active, and, in the event of illness, injury or the loss of a job, effectively assist them in returning to regular working life as quickly as possible. According to KOZ, the doctrine emphasises prevention - ranging from the prevention of illness and workplace accidents to the prevention of social exclusion and poverty in old age. The new vision is based on six fundamental, interconnected principles, including transparency in the management of financial resources, strict financial sustainability, respect for social dialogue through tripartite governance, an emphasis on prevention, support for returning to work, and the whole system being completely interconnected and impossible to artificially divide into isolated funds. jrg