MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Friday, 11 September 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Thursday, 10 September): BRATISLAVA - The referendum held in July saw the lowest voter-turnout ever, stated House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) after receiving the official record of the referendum results from the State Electoral Commission, adding that referendums must be a genuine tool of democracy. "The chairman of the State Electoral Commission delivered the official record of the results of the July referendum to me yesterday. So it's now officially on paper that, on the initiative of the opposition, we held a referendum with the lowest voter-turnout in [the] history [of the independent Slovakia]," said Rasi, adding that a referendum should also serve as a means for people to shorten the term of a government that has disappointed them. "However, it needs to be put into the constitution first, and the opposition initiators of the referendum knew this very well," he said. According to Rasi, the opposition representatives who called for a referendum on a snap general election now have a chance to change this and support the current proposal by Voice-SD, which seeks to make it possible to end the term of any government early via a referendum. "It's a constitutional amendment, so it can't be pushed through without the opposition," he added. BRATISLAVA - A total of €34.8 million will be allocated under four project calls for investments in expanding and building irrigation systems, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) told a press conference on Thursday. "Today we're launching four calls for the agricultural sector for irrigation investments. The amount available under the first call, titled 'Productive Investments in Expanding and Building New Irrigation Systems on Farms', is more than €8.2 million. The second call, titled 'Productive Investments in Expanding and Building New Irrigation Systems away from Farms' will receive €5 million, while more than €15.5 million is being allocated under 'Productive Investments in the Reconstruction and Modernisation of Existing Irrigation Infrastructure'. The fourth call, amounting to €6 million, involves 'Investments in Water Retention Measures away from Farms'. All in all, this makes almost €35 million included in the strategic plan," said Takac. The first call comes with aid intensity of 50 percent, and the maximum contribution amount is €300,000. For the second call, the aid intensity is set at 40 percent, and the maximum contribution amount at €500,000. Applications under the two calls may be submitted from 12 October until 30 November 2026. BRATISLAVA - It is important for the Visegrad Four (V4) countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia), when preparing the EU budget for the coming years, to maintain the common agricultural policy, while taking into account the specific circumstances of each country, and to continue to strive to eliminate regional disparities, stated Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on Thursday following a meeting of the premiers of the V4 countries and Ireland at Bratislava Castle. Fico also called on the V4 leaders to coordinate their common positions ahead of every European Council meeting. He believes that a key common issue for the V4 countries will be efforts to reduce electricity prices. Fico declared that the V4 is once again vibrant and capable of adopting joint stances on the most pressing issues. According to the V4 prime ministers, high electricity prices are harming competitiveness. "We'll be extremely proactive and will put forward specific proposals - even outside the framework of European Council meetings - on what we can do to bring electricity prices down," stated the Slovak premier, mentioning, for example, the issue of emissions trading (ETS), decoupling gas pricing from electricity pricing, and exploring alternative forms of electricity trading from via the Leipzig Exchange. BRATISLAVA - The prime ministers of the Visegrad Four (V4: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) countries agreed during their meeting at Bratislava Castle on Thursday - which was held in a format bringing together the V4 premiers and the Irish prime minister - to intensify joint talks so that the V4 can present common positions ahead of European Council meetings. On preparations for the EU budget for the coming years, the V4 countries said that they are united not only by the common agricultural policy and efforts to reduce regional disparities, but also by the issue of high defence costs for countries on the EU's eastern flank. According to Donald Tusk, the leaders are currently seeking to restore the strength and prestige of the V4. "When we were united, we achieved our goals and strengthened the EU as a whole. We will act even more intensively in the interests of our countries and Europe," the Polish prime minister declared. He added that the future of the EU depends on the fortunes of the V4 countries. In Tusk's view, the EU's next budget must take into account the high costs incurred by countries on the EU's eastern flank, which have to secure its borders. He noted that since he took office as prime minister, the number of illegal migrant crossings on Poland's eastern border has fallen from 20,000 to zero. Poland spent a great deal of money and effort on this, he said. BRATISLAVA - Malta's President Myriam Spiteri Debono is expected to visit Slovakia next year, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) stated on Thursday during his working visit to Malta. Blanar also announced plans to open an honorary consulate in Malta, noting that the country is visited by a relatively large number of Slovak tourists. The Slovak foreign minister held bilateral talks with Malta's Foreign and European Affairs Minister Chris Fearne, discussing, among other issues, qualified majority voting on individual proposals within the EU. "We agreed that if the big countries push for qualified majority voting only, without the possibility of a veto, it will probably mean the end of any possibility for countries such as Malta, Slovakia and others to promote our views," Blanar said. According to him, Malta and Slovakia will therefore jointly push to retain the right of veto on all issues where it is still available. The ministers also discussed illegal migration. In addition to strengthening the Schengen area's external borders and Frontex, the issue needs to be addressed in third countries, Blanar said. "In transit countries, but also in countries of origin from which migrants leave," he added. BRATISLAVA - Investment, Regional Development and Informatisation Minister Samuel Migal (Independent) is turning his ministry into an election headquarters, handing out other people's money and presenting it as his own assistance, stated opposition lawmaker Darina Luscikova (Progressive Slovakia/PS) on Thursday in response to Migal's visits to Presov region. "Small municipalities need help, but ministry funds aren't Samuel Migal's money. These are public resources, and the minister can't present them as if he were personally distributing them to mayors. It's also alarming that his activities are concentrated in the region in which he's running for chairman [Presov region]," emphasised Luscikova. MP Michal Truban (PS) stated that Migal is misusing the Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation Ministry and is presenting public funds as part of his own campaign in Presov region. "These are exactly the kinds of practices that prevent anything from functioning normally here, and wherever you go, you get fleeced by some middleman," he added. Minister Migal announced in the municipality of Sucha Dolina in Presov region on Thursday that the Investment, Regional Development and Informatisation Ministry is launching a grant scheme called 'A Million for Small Municipalities', which is aimed at local authorities with up to 500 inhabitants. A total of just over €1.11 million has been earmarked for this support. Municipalities can receive between €1,000-€3,500 without the need for co-financing. jrg