Welcome to Today in Slovakia. Whether you are starting your day, on the move, or just catching up, here is what mattered on Thursday, 26 June.
Fico digs in on sanctions, demands gas guarantees
From left, Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico attend a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, 26 June 2025. (source: TASR/AP )
Prime Minister Robert Fico is refusing to back the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia unless Brussels guarantees Slovakia will not be left out in the cold – literally.
Following Thursday’s European Council summit in Brussels, Fico told reporters that Slovakia would not support additional sanctions without iron-clad commitments from the European Commission related to the proposed phase-out of Russian gas imports by January 2028.
Fico’s message to Ursula von der Leyen? No guarantees, no deal.
What he wants: Fico said Slovakia expects the Commission to secure long-term access to affordable gas, maintain current transit fees, and provide financial cover in the event of a legal defeat in its ongoing dispute with Gazprom. “If we’re not harmed by this decision, if we’re guaranteed sufficient gas at a good price, if our transit fees are covered, and if someone pays for a potential court loss against Gazprom – only then will we be satisfied,” he declared after a one-on-one with von der Leyen ahead of the summit.
Energy trumps ideology: Fico repeated that energy prices remain a top concern for Slovakia and its neighbours. “Many leaders understand our issue when I explain it,” he said, adding that eastern EU states are being “liquidated” by disproportionately high energy costs.
On defence and enlargement: The summit, Fico said, was “factual and predictable”. NATO’s plan to increase defence spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035 came under discussion – but Slovakia will not budge. “Not a single cent more will go to defence in 2026 than in 2025,” he said. On enlargement, he praised Albania and Montenegro but claimed Serbia was being unfairly sidelined. Kosovo’s EU hopes? “Fiction,” Fico scoffed.
Ukraine wrangle: The summit conclusions were adopted by 26 out of 27 leaders – Hungary’s Viktor Orbán withheld consent over a single line referencing Kyiv’s European future. Fico, meanwhile, welcomed the inclusion of language reaffirming the EU’s founding principle as a peace project.
Trade tensions ahead: Fico said the Commission hopes to finalise a trade agreement with the USA by July 9 – but is preparing retaliation if talks fail. Talks also touched on Chinese imports, though Fico kept mum on specifics.
Flashback – the Monday muddle: Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said earlier this week that Bratislava was “ready to support” the 18th sanctions package – until Fico stepped in. Just hours before heading to Brussels, the PM said he would veto the package unless the vote was postponed. “We will not vote for that package tomorrow,” Fico told MPs on the European Affairs Committee on Thursday.
Pressed by opposition MP Beáta Jurík (Progressive Slovakia), Fico made clear that he was not merely abstaining – he was ready to use Slovakia’s veto for the first time and block EU sanctions against Russia.
Read the fine print – Fico’s endgame: Though the sanctions vote and the gas phase-out are technically separate, Fico is treating them as linked. He is using the sanctions package as leverage to derail Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen’s REPowerEU proposal, which would end all Russian energy imports by 2027 – and recommend halting new contracts for Russian fuels (including nuclear) as early as this year.
Critics say Fico is playing politics. Juraj Blanár initially backed the sanctions after determining they would not harm Slovakia’s economy. But Fico’s team now frames the issue as a bargaining chip to extract compensation from Brussels for energy decoupling.
On Thursday, Fico told the committee that REPowerEU could devastate Slovak industry. “This proposal is ideological and therefore harmful,” he said.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR
ROUTE AXED: Ryanair is pulling its only route from Poprad to London Stansted, slashing the High Tatras region’s UK air connections by half.
MURAL ERASED: A monumental mural by Czech duo Jiří Franta and David Böhm has been destroyed by a Slovak gallery without warning, sparking outrage over cultural disregard.
ORBÁN’S FOOTPRINT: A consortium tied to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s allies has won the contract to build a Slovak military hospital, despite its bid far exceeding initial cost estimates.
ROOTS AND PAPERS: James Monroe Števko’s search for Slovak citizenship has spanned years, documents, and villages – but the Interior Ministry still has not answered.
ECONOMIC SQUEEZE: Faced with skills shortages and global industry headwinds, Slovakia’s employers are calling for smarter immigration, better training, and faster digitalisation to keep the economy afloat.
FREE IN BRATISLAVA: Kick off summer in Bratislava this weekend with a free open-air gala concert by the Slovak National Theatre.
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INTERVIEW
Britain’s top envoy warns Slovakia over double-talk
British diplomat Nigel Baker (source: SME - Jozef Jakubčo)
In a parting interview, British Ambassador Nigel Baker says Slovak officials risk undermining trust by sending mixed signals about their stance on NATO and the EU. “Words do matter,” he says – and Western allies are paying close attention.
MERCEDES MESS
Matovič vs. Mercedes
Slovensko leader Igor Matovič (source: Facebook/Slovensko)
Opposition rabble-rouser Igor Matovič is coming for Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová (SNS), accusing her of dodgy dealings in a €158K Mercedes buy. His party, Slovensko, has filed a criminal complaint over what it says was a rigged public tender.
The ministry allegedly launched a competition for a new car – but accepted a used one instead. That, says Matovič, gave one bidder a backdoor advantage while the rest played by the rules. “You can’t call a second-hand dealership offer equal to one from a showroom,” he fumed Tuesday.
FOLLOW THE VIN: Matovič also claims the luxury ride is the same one Šimkovičová used for her Vatican visit in April – originally loaned by the Interior Ministry under a separate deal. Fast forward three months, and she signs off on buying it.
DRIVING IN STYLE: Ahead of a national pilgrimage to the Vatican, Šimkovičová flew in on a government jet while her official ministry limousine was driven more than 1,000 kilometres from Bratislava to greet her in the Eternal City. President Peter Pellegrini and other cabinet members kept it lean, using embassy-arranged rentals sourced locally in Italy. But Šimkovičová stuck with her ministry ride – and did not see the problem.
PRICEY TASTE: Former interior minister Roman Mikulec called the price tag “absurd”, pointing out that similar limos cost half as much under his watch. “Does the culture minister really need a car that only the president drives?” Matovič asked.
DAMAGE CONTROL: The Culture Ministry now says it is scrapping plans to buy the vehicle and is asking Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) to provide one from existing government stock. Eštok’s ministry says: already done – two cars, fully compliant with safety and performance specs, are parked and ready.
Šimkovičová says she never had a proper service vehicle and acted on security advice. “We used a loaned car until now,” she said, adding that the Office for the Protection of Constitutional Officials recommended the purchase.
IN OTHER NEWS
New rules requiring licensed medics and 30-day advance notice for children’s camps in Slovakia have been postponed until 1 October – but youth groups warn the last-minute rollout created chaos. The guidance, meant to unify health standards, demands qualified doctors or nurses on-site and stricter reporting duties, raising concerns over cost and staffing for volunteer-led camps.
A European Parliament audit mission found suspected misuse of EU funds in 76 of Slovakia’s 79 districts, Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský said, citing 330 documented cases already sent to Brussels. He accused Slovak officials of trying to discredit the probe and warned of serious flaws in agricultural subsidies.
From 1 July, foreigners applying to stay in Slovakia will face fewer paperwork hurdles, as a new law scraps the need to submit financial proof and photos with their applications. The Interior Ministry says the changes aim to simplify procedures while staying aligned with EU rules.
Progressive Slovakia holds a clear lead at 22.5 percent in a new AKO poll for Joj24, ahead of Smer, which remains below 20 percent. Despite a dip for KDH, the opposition bloc – including Igor Matovič’s party – would command a 79-seat majority.
PM adviser David Lindtner travelled to Moscow in March at the invitation of a pro-Kremlin foundation linked to Russian intelligence, according to ICJK. Neither Lindtner nor Smer MEP Ľuboš Blaha disclosed the group’s role in the visit, which was facilitated by Duma deputy Leonid Slutsky.
Former president Zuzana Čaputová remains Slovakia’s most trusted politician, followed by President Peter Pellegrini, while Slovensko movement leader Igor Matovič, SNS chair Andrej Danko and PM Robert Fico top the distrust rankings, according to a new Ipsos poll for Denník N.
PM Robert Fico said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week. He opposes EU calls to suspend dialogue with Israel under the Association Agreement, citing the need to maintain diplomatic channels and support peace efforts.
A monumental statue of Imrich Karvaš, the first governor of the Slovak National Bank, is unveiled in Bratislava on 26 June 2025. (source: TASR - NBS)
FRIDAY WEATHER BRIEFING: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers, rain and thunderstorms in the east. Highs between 23°C and 33°C. Storm and heat alerts are in effect across parts of eastern Slovakia. (SHMÚ)
ON THE NAME DAY RADAR: It is Ladislav and Ladislava’s turn in the spotlight on Friday. Got one in your contacts? Time for a cheerful všetko najlepšie!
Iryna Uias will be on the keys Friday, bringing you the latest from Slovakia.
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