German Chancellor Angela Merkel will arrive in Bratislava on February 7 to meet with political representatives of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries.
People working and living in the capital, particularly in the Old Town borough, will have to prepare for several restrictions during the day.
"Germany is our biggest economic partner, and the talks at the highest level are thus extremely important," said PM Peter Pellegrini (Smer), who invited Merkel to Slovakia last May, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
The German chancellor will also meet with President Andrej Kiska and other political leaders from the V4 region will hold talks with her throughout the day.
Traffic restrictions
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"We ask the drivers planning to arrive to Bratislava via the D1 highway to use it before 10:00 at the latest," said Police Corps spokesperson Michal Szeiff, as quoted by the SITA newswire.
The highway will be then be accessible from 12:00 until 14:45. It will be reopened after 16:00.
"We recommend using the highway after 17:00," Szeiff added, as quoted by SITA.
Here is a complete list of closures and traffic restrictions:
ROAD RESTRICTIONS & HOURS
10:30 – 12:00 Palisády (in both directions), Hodžovo Square, Staromestská St, Einsteinova St & the D1 highway bypass between Zlaté Piesky and SNP Bridge
14:00 – 14:15 Palisády (in both directions), Hodžovo Square
14:45 – 16:00 Palisády, Hodžovo Square, Staromestská St, Uršulínska St, SNP Square, Suché Mýto, SNP Bridge, Einsteinova St & bypass (on the way to Trnava)
European Labour Authority to be discussed
Merkel and Pellegrini will discuss integration within the European Union. In addition, the prime minister wants to ask the chancellor to support Slovakia's effort in gaining the seat of the European Labour Authority, the TASR newswire reported.
"I believe we can fully participate in decision-making when it comes to the most important European questions," said Pellegrini, as quoted by TASR.
Responding to the question on the different stance towards the EU among V4 countries, he answered that "the EU is our indisputable living space", as reported by TASR.
The German chancellor will also meet with other V4 top officials. They will talk about migration, the eurozone, internal market, the EU's budget and the European Parliament elections.
"Of course, Brexit and preparations for all scenarios of Britain leaving the EU will be a particular topic," Pellegrini said, as quoted by TASR.
6. Feb 2019 at 21:13 | Compiled by Spectator staff
