MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Wednesday, 15 July 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Tuesday, 14 July): NEW YORK/BRATISLAVA - Slovakia has officially launched its campaign to be elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term, with Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar formally inaugurating the campaign during his working visit to the United States on Tuesday, TASR learnt from its special correspondent on the same day. Presenting the candidacy at UN headquarters is a significant milestone in Slovakia's efforts to secure the backing of member states for a seat on one of the international system's most important bodies, the Foreign Ministry stated. Blanar claimed that Slovakia has been conducting a long-term campaign and that the vast majority of the UN's 193 member states have already expressed support. "Despite this positive development, we must now focus on intensifying the campaign," he said, adding that he doesn't taken the countries' support for granted. He said that Slovakia's bid is founded on the values of respect, dialogue, stability and peace. "We want to work in the UN Security Council on issues that are of international concern but with which we also have unique experience," Blanar declared, adding that Slovakia aims to be an active contributor. He identified the country's priorities as preventing, resolving and transforming armed conflicts, protecting international law, human rights and humanitarian issues, addressing the security aspects of strategic resources including energy, water and critical infrastructure, and tackling security challenges linked to digitisation and artificial intelligence. According to Blanar, a successful bid, service as a non-permanent Security Council member and the related activities would strengthen Slovakia's international standing and enhance its reputation globally. "Membership of the UN Security Council is a prestigious matter for Slovakia as a small country because it would make us one of 15 nations helping to shape international developments on many issues around the world," he said. SHUSHA/BRATISLAVA - Azerbaijan is a guarantor of stability and development, and it serves as a hub for logistics and transport routes linking East and West, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini declared in the Azerbaijani city of Shusha in Karabakh region on Tuesday. Speaking alongside Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Pellegrini said that Slovakia pursues pragmatic relations and seeks partners and friends in all parts of the world, with Azerbaijan among them, TASR's special correspondent has reported. Pellegrini thanked Azerbaijan for its willingness to supply Slovakia with part of its gas reserves after Russian gas deliveries through Ukraine were halted. "I'm very pleased that our ministers will be able to continue negotiations on finding a stable solution for energy supplies beyond 2027," he said. He also welcomed the planned launch of a direct air link between Bratislava and Baku as of October, pointing out that it will bolster business, academic and people-to-people ties. Pellegrini announced that a business forum involving Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova will be held in Baku on Wednesday (15 July), providing an opportunity for companies from both countries to meet. He added that he and Aliyev share the view that bilateral relations shouldn't be based solely on one-way trade in which one side offers goods and the other purchases them. "Instead, we want as many projects as possible to be joint ventures, to work together in areas where it is mutually beneficial, to manufacture together where it is advantageous, to enable technology transfers and to implement joint projects that benefit both countries rather than one at the expense of the other," said the Slovak president. BRATISLAVA - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party has criticised the Environment Ministry's decision approving the construction of the Slovnaft refinery's proposed Waste-to-Energy Centre (CEZO), describing the move as an example of the government's "unprecedented arrogance", TASR has learnt from PS's media department. According to PS, the ministry ignored the views of experts, protests by Bratislava local governments and a public petition. "Data and expert opinions show that Bratislava does not need a second waste-to-energy plant. It's therefore likely that it will also be used to incinerate waste imported from abroad. [Environment Minister Tomas] Taraba's approval is a betrayal of the people living in the capital," stated PS MP Tamara Stohlova. According to PS, Environment Minister Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) should be protecting the public interest and people's health rather than promoting projects that run counter to expert recommendations and Slovakia's and the EU's long-term objectives. By his decision, Taraba has once again prioritised the interests of large businesses, according to PS, which also criticised the ministry for issuing its decision before the petition could be formally discussed by the petition committee. The ministry's approval of the CEZO project is based on a final opinion issued as part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process before its entry into force. In its final opinion, the ministry set 56 additional technical measures and conditions aimed at increasing safety and minimising any adverse effects on the environment and human health. BRATISLAVA/BASH GARVAND - President Peter Pellegrini and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for a new school to be named after Milan Rastislav Stefanik as part of a smart village project in Bash Garvand, Agdam District that is being built by a Slovak company, TASR's special correspondent has reported. Bash Garvand is located some 50 kilometres north of Khankendi (formerly Stepanakert), the capital of the Nagorno-Karabakh separatist region inhabited by ethnic Armenians until the lightning offensive by the Azerbaijani military in September 2023. According to the Slovak President's Office, the smart village project is an important part of the reconstruction of Karabakh territories affected by the conflict, confirming that Slovakia's technology, experience and know-how have found their way into international development projects. "I want to express my respect and admiration for what has been successfully built on this territory in such a short time, just a few years after liberation. I'm extremely pleased, and we are proud that Slovak companies are part of the Karabakh reconstruction, and I firmly believe they will continue to participate in other interesting projects that are yet to be implemented here in Karabakh," stated Pellegrini. "I'd also like to express my sincere gratitude for the great honour of having the school, which will serve all children, proudly bear the name of one of our most distinguished historical figures, General Milan Rastislav Stefanik, ensuring that Slovakia will leave a lasting mark here in Karabakh," added Pellegrini. BRATISLAVA - EU funds after 2027 will have a different structure and stricter absorption rules, making thorough planning crucial, Government Proxy for the National and Regional Partnership Plan (NRPP) Ladislav Simko stated on Tuesday, adding that the so-called "zero" version of the plan should be completed in January 2027. He also warned that the preliminary allocation for Slovakia, initially set at €19.9 billion, could be lower due to the ongoing pressure from the so-called "frugal countries" (such as Germany or the Scandinavian states) to reduce spending on cohesion policy. For this reason, an alternative scenario in which Slovakia's allocation could drop by 10 to 20 percent is also considered. Out of the proposed package, €10.5 billion is currently programmed, while €5 billion is allocated to agriculture and internal security, with €4.3 billion held as an unprogrammed reserve for mid-term review. In August or September of this year, the government is set to approve Slovakia's Vision 2040 document which will be followed by a national strategy. Reforms and investments will then be prioritised within expert groups, and the complete document must be ready for approval by autumn 2027 after being negotiated with the European Commission. NEW YORK - Slovakia is a reliable and constructive partner of the United Nations (UN) and is ready to support the presidency of the UN General Assembly's 81st session under Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, according to Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) who held talks with Rahman in New York on Tuesday, TASR learnt from its special correspondent on the same day. Rahman was elected President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly by secret ballot in early June. The two ministers also reaffirmed their interest in strengthening bilateral relations between Slovakia and Bangladesh. "We look forward to close cooperation with the new President of the General Assembly and are ready to support his presidency. I am convinced that the future president's many years of experience within the UN will be particularly valuable during the preparations for the 2027 Sustainable Development Goals Summit," stated Blanar. According to the Slovak Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the ministers discussed the priorities of the upcoming September session, including the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the use of artificial intelligence for sustainable development, the reform of the international financial architecture, and support for the least developed countries. At the same time, Slovakia is continuing its active diplomatic campaign to be elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term. Blanar presented the priorities of Slovakia's candidacy to Rahman, who confirmed Bangladesh's support for the bid. During the talks, the ministers also confirmed their interest in developing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Slovakia, particularly in water management, energy, infrastructure and the defence industry. "Mutual trade exceeded €500 million in both 2024 and 2025, and there's room for further growth, especially in energy technology, water management and joint industrial projects," added the ministry. The head of Slovak diplomacy also praised Bangladesh's long-term humanitarian efforts in providing aid to more than one million Rohingya refugees. jrg