MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Friday, 6 November 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Thursday, 5 November): TRENCIN - At their meeting in Trencin on Thursday, the presidents of the Visegrad Four (V4) countries agreed on supporting a credible, ambitious and merit-based European Union (EU) enlargement policy as a strategic investment in peace, security and the global position of Europe, while also expressing support for Ukraine, its sovereignty, territorial integrity, European future and right to defend itself against Russian aggression, TASR learnt from the President's Office on the same day. In a joint declaration, the presidents called for a just and lasting peace in accordance with international law, stressing that affordable, secure and reliable energy is essential for Europe's competitiveness. The main talks at the Visegrad Group (V4: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) presidential summit began at Trencin Castle on Thursday morning. Czech President Petr Pavel, Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Hungarian head of state Andras Baka arrived in Trencin at the invitation of Slovak President Peter Pellegrini. The summit is being held in an expanded format, with the participation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. According to the presidents, a united Europe is capable of acting decisively and is essential for ensuring peace, prosperity and stability across the continent. In a joint declaration, Pellegrini, Pavel, Nawrocki and Baka expressed their support for EU enlargement. LVIV/BRATISLAVA - Thursday's joint session of the Slovak and Ukrainian governments will result in a special resolution setting out specific tasks and deadlines for individual cabinet members, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told a press conference after the two governments held their fourth joint session. Fico confirmed measures and humanitarian activities to help the people of Ukraine to cope with a harsh winter amid the ongoing conflict, such as financial assistance for purchasing generators. "I'm pleased with the decisions aimed at making these difficult times easier for the people of Ukraine, perhaps also with this small assistance that we're now providing," said Fico. The prime minister also announced that, as part of humanitarian assistance, Slovakia should deliver demining equipment and other machinery to Ukraine in January or during the first quarter of next year. He expressed hope that good neighbourly relations will develop in the foreseeable future free from the shadow of the war that Ukraine is currently enduring. "We all wish you a just and sustainable peace from the bottom of our hearts, and I'm convinced that at some point everyone in the world will manage to achieve this just and sustainable peace," stated Fico. BRUSSELS - The European Commission (EC) will provide Slovakia with €2.1 million from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to help reimburse the costs of rescue operations and recovery efforts following the severe floods that took place in September 2024, TASR learnt from the EC's announcement on Thursday. Two years ago floods affected several parts of the country, with Bratislava and the surrounding regions among the hardest hit. Flooding of the Danube and Morava rivers coupled with exceptionally heavy rainfall caused major damage to transport links and other critical infrastructure. The EC's proposals were previously approved by both the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. BRATISLAVA - The future government's activities should be based around a small number of key priorities, with their implementation guaranteed directly by the prime minister and a designated deputy prime minister, which is the only way for the government to perform better than the previous ones and really help the people of Slovakia, the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party stated on Thursday when presenting six priorities in its programme called Tresk 2 (Bang 2). "Slovakia needs change. We must move from a policy of ideas to a policy of projects. We urgently need a small number of priorities that will be completed with the support of the prime minister and based on a clear timetable. That's exactly what our Tresk 2 programme is about. We want people to have more money left in their wallets, to be able to stay and live in Slovakia, to have guaranteed healthcare without fees, with regions being able to make progress as well," said PS leader Michal Simecka. The six key projects are to be overseen by former head of the caretaker government and current PS MEP Ludovit Odor, whom the party envisages as a future deputy prime minister. According to Odor, the very first priority that serves as the basis for all others is to revive the economy and halt Slovakia's rising debt. The remaining priorities are called 'A Country That Does Not Waste Talent', 'A New Generation State', 'Prospects for Every Region', 'Lower Energy Bills' and 'Healthcare without Getting Lost'. BRATISLAVA - A 54-year-old man from Nove Zamky district (Nitra region) has been charged in connection with the collision between two trains near Pezinok last year, Bratislava region police have announced on social media, adding that he faces a prison sentence of four to ten years if found guilty. The collision took place on the railway line between Pezinok and Pezinok-Grinava stations on 9 November 2025. "According to the evidence gathered, the charged man violated a key professional duty while serving as the driver of a passenger train. After a brief stop to allow passengers to board and alight, he ignored a 'Stop' departure signal and set the train in motion. As a result, he entered the path of another train that was passing through that section at the time," stated the police. The police said that there were some 650 passengers on board the two trains at the time of the collision. At least 127 of them were injured, with at least three individuals sustaining serious bodily harm. According to the police, the total damage exceeded €3 million. "If guilt is proven in court, this offence carries a prison sentence of four to ten years under the law," added the police. BRATISLAVA - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party is filing a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor-General's (PG) Office in connection with Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) private flights to the Adriatic coast, the party's communications department has informed TASR. SaS wants the premier to explain who's financing these trips and how they are being paid for. SaS is also preparing motions for the Austrian authorities, claiming that the aircraft used by Fico is registered in Austria. SaS leader Branislav Groehling pointed to a discrepancy between the premier's calls for austerity cuts and his own lifestyle. "The problem isn't that the premier goes on holiday, the problem is that we don't know who's financing these trips or who paid for the flights to the Adriatic. We've documented eight flights, with each estimated to have cost between €10,000-€15,000. That puts the total cost of the eight flights at more than €100,000. On the one hand, Fico's government is harassing the self-employed and businesses over minor errors in tax documents, while on the other, the public has no information about how the premier is financing his trips," stated Groehling. ko