MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, 5 September 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, 4 September): SOFIA - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) met with his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev in Sofia on Friday and invited him to visit Slovakia, while he also offered cooperation with the Visegrad Four [V4: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia] currently chaired by Slovakia, TASR learnt from its special correspondent on the same day. According to Fico, there's potential for closer cooperation between the two countries, particularly in nuclear energy and defence, as well as in other areas, including gas supplies. The two prime ministers agreed that the decommissioning of nuclear power plants in some EU member states was a mistake. Both countries plan to build new nuclear power sources and intend to develop a partnership with US company Westinghouse. Cooperation in this area should primarily take the form of exchange of experience and expertise, while a joint commission will be set up for this purpose. According to Fico, it would be of great importance to both countries. Radev said that Bulgaria wants to contribute to Slovakia's energy security and the diversification of gas supplies, noting that Bulgaria has access to liquefied natural gas terminals. Fico expects the Slovak Ministry of Economy to make full use of the advantages that Bulgaria offers in terms of gas imports to Central Europe. "The advantages provided by Bulgarian companies in supplying gas from other sources are vital for Slovakia, and our operators in this region and area must step up their cooperation significantly," stated Fico. He welcomed Bulgaria's support for Slovakia's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2028-2029, adding that Slovakia, in turn, will support Bulgaria's bid to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). SOFIA - Premier Robert Fico was accompanied on his official visit to Bulgaria on Friday by Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (all Smer-SD), with Blanar stating that Slovakia, which currently holds the presidency of the Visegrad Group (V4: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia), has offered Bulgaria cooperation with the V4 at various levels. Kalinak emphasised that they can cooperate with Sofia in the field of military aviation and other areas of defence. Slovakia's chief diplomat noted that a meeting of the V4 and Japanese foreign ministers took place this week and Slovakia has also offered this format of cooperation to Bulgaria. "We're also offering this to Bulgaria at various levels. This doesn't mean Bulgaria's accession to the V4, but it does mean an offer of cooperation in this format with countries representing 65 million people, that is, at various working levels," he said. Blanar can also envisage cooperation in the V4+ format at European Union level, with certain matters being coordinated jointly. During negotiations on the EU's multiannual financial framework, both countries share a common position within the Coalition of Friends of Cohesion. Kalinak stressed that Bulgaria has experience in operating several types of aircraft and, compared to Slovakia, is far more successful in keeping MiG-29 fighter jets and American F-16s operational. BRATISLAVA - Not a single euro from the state budget will be used for the project to renovate the Interior Ministry's headquarters and build a new administrative centre in Bratislava, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) told a press conference on Friday, adding that the necessary funds should be obtained from the sale of buildings no longer used by the ministry. "Not a single invoice will be signed without financial coverage obtained through the sale of surplus property owned by the Interior Ministry. I can guarantee that," stressed Sutaj Estok, adding that the entire project had been designed to have a zero impact on the budget. "We're not asking for a single additional euro from the state budget. Everything will be handled by the Interior Ministry," he added. According to an expert assessment, the sale of unused buildings could yield €65 million. The ministry said the total cost of the project, currently estimated at approximately €85 million, is a preliminary estimate. "Of this amount, roughly €30 million is earmarked for renovating the historic building and roughly €40 million for the new building, including underground parking for almost 200 cars and a civil protection shelter," explained Sutaj Estok. BRATISLAVA - The 'Slovakia' party has described the Interior Ministry 's (MoI) claim that the renovation of the ministry's headquarters will have no financial impact on citizens as misleading, party representatives stated on Friday, claiming that a sell-off of lucrative state assets is in the pipeline. MP Veronika Remisova ('Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus) has criticised Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) for hiding behind analysts from the Value for Money Unit in his approach. "If the state sells assets for €65 million and subsequently spends that money, it doesn't mean that the project costs the public nothing. State assets belong to the citizens, and €65 million is still the public's money," pointed out ex-interior minister Roman Mikulec ('Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus). The 'Slovakia' party doesn't dispute the need to renovate the Interior Ministry's buildings, which are in a state of disrepair, but, according to Mikulec, a collapsing ceiling can't be "an excuse for selling off lucrative state assets". The party has called on the minister to publish a complete list of properties, their current values and the precise financial breakdown of the entire project before the first sale of an Interior Ministry's building takes place. Remisova pointed to the words of Sutaj Estok, who said on Friday that the Value for Money Unit (UHP) had confirmed his project's zero impact. "However, the UHP is in fact recommending that he should still demonstrate budgetary neutrality," said the MP in a statement. BRATISLAVA - The Council of the Arts Support Fund (FPU) is currently considering a recommendation from the Culture Ministry to cancel the current call for applications for the post of director of the fund and to launch a new selection process. "The council will decide on its course of action within the scope of its statutory powers," said Lubomir Klestinec, vice-chair of the council, who is currently acting as its chair. Klestinec also gave assurances that the FPU is continuing its activities without interruption. "The grant system is operating without interruption; current calls for applications are being administered in accordance with the approved timetable, and support is reaching applicants properly and on time," he added. The Culture Ministry addressed the call to the FPU Council to scrap the current selection process for the post of FPU director and to launch a new one on Thursday (3 September). Minister Martina Simkovicova (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) justified the appeal by citing the existence of several questions regarding the compliance of the call's content with the relevant provisions of the FPU Act. The minister therefore considers it to be important that these issues should be properly assessed and that the further course of action be set so as not to raise doubts about the lawfulness and transparency of the selection procedure. am