MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, 1 August 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, 31 July): BRATISLAVA - Suspending Spain from the Schengen Area won't resolve the current migration crisis in the Spanish autonomous region of Ceuta, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) posted on social media on Friday, adding that Slovakia is prepared to assist the country with police forces or equipment to protect its external borders. "The Slovak government has long held the view that the most effective way to prevent illegal migration is through the consistent protection of the so-called Schengen borders, i.e. doing everything possible - and even the impossible - to prevent illegal migrants from entering the territory of EU member states without authorisation. It's strange to observe the hypocrisy of many EU member states, as well as EU officials, who, just a few years ago, through their lax approach, allowed illegal migrants to enter EU member states in huge numbers and cause serious crises," stated the premier. Around 60,000 people have entered the Spanish town of Ceuta from Morocco in recent days, mayor of this autonomous town Jesus Vivas stated on Friday, adding that the situation is unsustainable. More than 48,000 have already returned to Morocco. At least 57 people have died while attempting to reach the Spanish enclave. Italy has called for Spain's participation in the Schengen Area to be suspended. According to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the country is prepared to introduce emergency measures in response to the migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa, including the temporary reintroduction of internal border controls within the Schengen Area. BRATISLAVA - Following a warning issued by Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka, Slovakia's Interior Ministry has stated that Under the current legal framework it cannot register same-sex marriages concluded abroad in the country's special registry as marriages and that it will inform applicants accordingly, ministry spokesperson Matej Neumann told TASR on Friday. Neumann said that the ministry assesses each application on the basis of the Slovak Constitution, the Family Act, the Registry Act and Slovakia's obligations under European Union law. "Regardless of legal and social debates on the scope of the legal effects of same-sex unions, the Interior Ministry, as an executive authority, is obliged to act in accordance with the legal framework in force at the time of its decision-making and to respect the constitutional and statutory limits of its powers," the ministry stated. It added that its administrative and registration activities cannot override decisions made by the legislature, as this would be incompatible with the principle of the separation of powers and, above all, with the constitutional principle of legality in the exercise of public authority. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) said that he's bound by the Constitution and the law in carrying out his duties. "The ministry cannot, through an administrative procedure, exceed the limits of the powers granted to executive authorities by the Constitution and legislation. We can't create a new legal status by our own decisions or override the decision-making of Parliament," he said. BANSKA BYSTRICA - A pensioner accused of publicly endorsing the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in Handlova on 15 May 2024 was given a suspended prison sentence by the Specialised Criminal Court in Banska Bystrica on Friday. The judgment isn't final, as the defendant has appealed against it and the prosecutor has reserved the right to respond within the statutory time limit. "The defendant was found guilty of the felony offence of certain forms of participation in terrorism and was sentenced to a three-year prison term, suspended for a four-year probation period under the supervision of a probation and mediation officer. He was also ordered to complete a social-training or other social programme in cooperation with the probation and mediation officer or another specialist. The court also ordered the forfeiture of property," Maria Horakova of the Specialised Criminal Court told TASR. According to the prosecution, the retired defendant expressed support online for gunman Juraj C. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons], who was convicted by the Specialised Criminal Court of carrying out a terrorist attack and sentenced to 21 years in prison. The indictment alleged that Julius K., using the online alias 'Modry zajacik' (Little Blue Hare), repeatedly published posts approving of the terrorist attack. He told the court that he was innocent and had never endorsed either the shooting or the assassination attempt. He said that his videos merely questioned whether the attack had taken place at all, arguing that there were many unanswered questions surrounding the case. He claimed that if it did occur, it happened in a differently way from the version presented to the public. He added that he had spent four and a half months in custody in Leopoldov prison. "All the witnesses will confirm that I'm a decent person. Today I believe that the assassination attempt did happen, but not in the way in which they describe it," said Julius K. during the trial, which began in January of this year. NITRA - Two men charged as part of the police operation codenamed 'Nemesis' have been remanded in custody by Nitra District Court, acting spokesperson for Nitra Regional Court Zuzana Krncanova Buranska stated on Friday, adding that both defendants have lodged an appeal against this ruling, which will be heard by Nitra Regional Court. The application to remand both men in custody was submitted by an investigator from the anti-crime unit of the Office for Combating Organised Crime (UBOK). SZEKESFEHERVAR - Slovak Major-General Tibor Kralik handed over command of the Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C) to his Hungarian successor, Major-General Laszlo Antal, in the Hungarian town of Szekesfehervar on Friday, TASR learnt from its special correspondent in Budapest, referring to information from the Hungarian Defence Ministry. In his farewell speech, Kralik stated that he was handing over not only command but also an exceptional team of people to his successor. He said that the new commander will face challenges, but this team will support him and always stand behind him. "I have no doubt that under your leadership, this command will continue to grow, develop, grow stronger and achieve even better results," he said. Major-General Kralik is stepping down after three years in the post. Under his leadership, HQ MND-C has achieved full operational capability, said Antal. BRATISLAVA - The price of gas as a commodity, which is factored into the calculation of the final price for 2027, is down by almost a tenth year-on-year, which will also have a positive impact on overall end gas prices for Slovak households, the Office for the Regulation of Network Industries (URSO) stated on Friday, adding that it will decide on the final form of gas end-user prices for next year during pricing proceedings in the autumn. The authority calculated the price of gas as a commodity based on the average of the daily prices of the EEX The Natural Gas Futures exchange product for the period between 1 October 2025 and 30 June 2026. The resulting figure for 2027 is €33.272 per megawatt-hour (MWh), representing a year-on-year decrease of 9.88 percent. "This is good news for Slovak citizens. It confirms once again that expertly designed regulation, including a correctly determined reference period, can protect Slovak households even during times of extreme volatility on global markets. The year 2027 will therefore bring relief for Slovak households, at least as far as regulated gas prices are concerned," said URSO chair Jozef Holjencik. am