Good to have you with us! Here is the latest edition of Today in Slovakia - all the top news from Tuesday, wrapped up in one place!
Fico threatens to block EU summit conclusions
PM Robert Fico (source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)
Prime Minister Robert Fico is set to travel to Brussels on Thursday to attend an extraordinary European Union summit, where discussions will include further support for Ukraine and increased military spending.
“We have no objections,” Fico said at a press conference on March 3 when asked about strengthening Europe’s defence capabilities. “We are prepared to participate constructively, provided there are exemptions regarding the Growth and Stability Pact and that we can include dual-use projects in military expenditures,” he added. Fico does not want increased defence spending to be counted as part of the national debt and argues that projects such as the planned hospital in Prešov – intended to serve both civilians and soldiers – should be classified under defence expenditures.
Slovakia does not appear to have the resources to increase its defence spending beyond 2 percent at present.
However, Fico opposes what he describes as the EU’s approach of seeking “peace through force”. According to him, the EU adheres to a philosophy of “better war than an unjust peace” and supports the mutual killing of Slavs. He reiterated that Slovakia would not provide Ukraine with military or financial aid, though he accepts that other European nations may choose to do so on a bilateral basis. “If others do so, we will respect that,” Fico said, emphasising that Slovakia supports Ukraine, but not the war. Instead, he pointed to humanitarian assistance, gas supplies via Vojany, and electricity deliveries as Slovakia’s means of support.
Fico also called for an “immediate” ceasefire, even if peace negotiations were to last for decades. He did not elaborate on how this would be achieved but reiterated that Slovakia would not send troops to Ukraine under any circumstances.
Prime Minister Robert Fico (centre, in the background) during a meeting of the European Affairs Committee in Bratislava on October 26, 2024. (source: TASR - Pavol Zachar)
“I reject the rhetoric that Ukraine is fighting for us. Ukraine is only harming us,” he said, adding that he does not believe Russia will attack Slovakia or engage in conflict with NATO. While he acknowledged that Russia violated international law by invading Ukraine, he also argued that Russia had its reasons for doing so.
At the summit, Fico plans to demand that the EU formally call on Ukraine to restore the transit of gas to Europe. He criticised Ukraine for purchasing Russian gas from Europe while blocking its transit through Ukrainian territory, arguing that this harms the EU, Slovakia, and even Ukraine itself, while allowing Russia to profit from higher gas prices. The European Commission remains “silent” in this case, Fico claimed.
“It’s a comedy,” Fico said. “It’s a mockery of common sense.”
If Slovakia’s proposal is not approved, it could complicate the adoption of the summit’s conclusions, Fico admitted. “I won’t say whether I will block them or not,” he stated. However, he hinted that if EU leaders dismiss Slovakia’s arguments with smirks, he may choose to veto the final conclusions.
“It seems Brussels is in for a fun time on March 6,” Fico said.
Related: Before the summit, the prime minister will attend a morning session of the parliamentary committee on European affairs. Lawmakers are expected to approve a resolution outlining the proposals Fico should present on Slovakia’s behalf. The ruling coalition holds a majority in the committee.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR
Fico’s playbook: How Slovakia’s prime minister distracts from the real issues.
Once a high-ranking police officer, now a convicted fugitive: Ján Kaľavský has been sentenced for corruption in Slovakia but remains beyond the reach of authorities.
Trump’s tariff gambit: Donald Trump has confirmed a 25-percent tariff on EU car imports, but his reasoning veers into murky economic waters.
Bear Mine: Deep in the Western Tatras, Medvedia štôlňa is the region’s longest mine – yet its origins remain a mystery, with no written records or official recognition in historical mining lists.
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INTERVIEW
The travel pioneer who bet on the Internet – and won
Táňa Ondrejková (source: Sandra Lizáková)
Two decades ago, Táňa Ondrejková saw the future of travel and launched Pelikán, a ticketing platform that transformed how Slovaks book flights. In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, she shares how the industry has evolved, why flexibility is key to leadership, and whether business is still a man’s world.
“MOVIE NIGHT”
“Dosť bolo Fica”
The phrase "Dosť bolo Fica" ("Enough of Fico") has recently been projected onto the Slovak Interior Ministry building in Bratislava. (source: Facebook - Igor Matovič)
Opposition MP Igor Matovič (Slovensko) has found a new pastime in recent evenings: projecting the phrase “Dosť bolo Fica” (“Enough of Fico”) onto buildings in Bratislava. For example, he decided to include the Interior Ministry’s headquarters near the Eurovea shopping centre in his project. The ministry is led by Matúš Šutaj Eštok, whom Matovič accuses of persecuting a group of police officers who investigated corruption committed under previous Fico governments. Police confronted Matovič outside the building, but their attempts to deter him proved unsuccessful – even as ministry employees reportedly complained that the projection shone into their windows. Given the late hour, however, it is unlikely anyone was working inside. Undeterred, Matovič later projected the same message onto the city’s mediaeval walls.
IN OTHER NEWS
The presidents of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria will meet in Slavkov near Brno on Wednesday to discuss cross-border cooperation, transport infrastructure, and foreign policy.
The company Zemegula, operator of the UFO restaurant and observation deck on the SNP Bridge in Bratislava, is starting the reconstruction of the entrance area under the bridge. The company expects the project to be completed by the end of October.
Bratislava will introduce paid parking on weekdays near the Červený most, close to Železná studnička. The city says business centre employees occupy the spaces, leaving no room for visitors to the recreational area. Barriers will be installed, with the first three hours free, followed by a charge of 50 cents per 20 minutes. Parking will remain free on weekends and public holidays. The new system will start in April.
The average wage in Slovakia returned to growth last year, rising by 3.7 percent in real terms after accounting for inflation, reaching €1,524. This marks the fastest increase since 2019.
Former special prosecutor Daniel Lipšic has raised concerns about the sharp decline in corruption and organised crime prosecutions following the dissolution of Slovakia’s Special Prosecutor’s Office (ÚŠP) and the National Crime Agency (NAKA) last year. He revealed that only five indictments were filed at the Specialised Criminal Court in the first two months of 2025 – three of them from regional prosecutors – compared to over 10 per month under the previous system.
President Peter Pellegrini and the Netherlands’ Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Slovakia, Jules Gerzon, pose for a photo after the presentation of credentials at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (source: TASR - Pavel Neubauer)
A 25-percent tariff on EU imports to the US will hit the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other countries in the region the hardest, according to S&P.
Two Slovak companies made it onto the Financial Times list of Europe’s fastest-growing firms this year. Waste management company Sensoneo joined last year’s representative, Gardeon. Sensoneo ranked 154th out of 1,000, while Gardeon, which placed 510th last year, dropped to 810th.
The Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava and the University of Economics in Bratislava are launching joint interdisciplinary study programmes to align with market demands and industry needs. Set to begin in the 2026/2027 academic year, the programmes include Economics and Management in Energy and FinTech and Financial Innovation. Other planned programmes include Electronic Engineering and International Business, Management in Nuclear Energy (offered in English), and Urbanism.
President Peter Pellegrini is set to appoint MP and hunter Rudolf Huliak as Tourism and Sport Minister on Wednesday. Huliak lacks the experience and qualifications to lead this ministry.
Prime Minister Robert Fico has given an interview to Mario Nawfal, a controversial influencer and crypto entrepreneur known for speaking with figures like Jair Bolsonaro, Elon Musk, and Alexander Lukashenko. In the conversation, Fico criticised NGOs and the European Union, among other things, aligning with Nawfal’s often provocative guest list on his widely followed X account.
WEDNESDAY WEATHER BRIEFING: Wednesday’s bringing the sunshine! Mostly clear skies and unseasonably warm temperatures, hovering between a delightful 11°C and a downright toasty 18°C. A light to moderate southerly breeze will keep things from feeling too balmy. (SHMÚ)
The photo shows Bystrá Peak (2,248.4 m) in the Western Tatras, as seen from Pribylina on February 18, 2025. (source: TASR - Veronika Mihaliková)
PARTY TIME: March 5 is Fridrich’s special day, so if you know one, don’t forget to send him your warmest wishes. Všetko najlepšie!
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