Good evening. Here is theFriday, December 15 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Border crossing blockade ends
Trucks waiting due to the Slovak-Ukrainian border crossing blockade. (source: TASR)
In a Thursday evening social media post, the Union of Slovak Hauliers (UNAS) announced that its blockade at the Slovak-Ukrainian border crossing at Vyšné Nemecké-Uzhhorod had ended.
"We are doing so following a call from the security forces. Just as they respected our right to protest, we respect this," the union said, adding that they thanked farmers for their support as well.
UNAS is calling on the European Union to cancel its road transport agreement with Ukraine. The temporary deal was signed in June 2022, a few months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. UNAS claims that the deal harms the market in Slovakia due to the higher number of Ukrainian trucks entering the EU permit-free and offering cheaper transport services within the bloc.
By blocking the main crossing point for truck traffic from Ukraine in an action which started on Monday, the union joined a protest by its counterparts in Poland and Hungary.
Passenger traffic at the Vyšné Nemecké border crossing was not restricted by the blockade, nor was the exit of trucks from Slovakia to Ukraine.
UNAS is demanding the re-introduction of transport permits for Ukrainian carriers and the exclusion of the registration obligation for empty trucks from the EU coming from Ukraine into Slovakia in the "e-čerga" application.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
NEW YEAR'S EVE: There will be no New Year’s Eve firework display in Bratislava this year: the capital says it is saving nature as well as its budget.
BUSINESS: The first battery production line in Slovakia launches in Voderady.
CHILDREN: These are the most popular baby names in Slovakia for 2023.
BRATISLAVA: Trams will return to the Vajnorská line from Monday, as reconstruction of the line moves to its second phase.
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FEATURE STORY FOR FRIDAY
Slovakia: Land of sterotypes? One of our lighter stories
Lumberjack spotted? A man walks along a road in the Kýčera settlement in the Kysuce region. (source: Peter Dlhopolec for The Slovak Spectator)
Forests full of mushrooms in the far west, lumberjacks in the north, smugglers in the east. These are just a few of the stereotypes that appear on a regional mental map put together by the alternative tour company Authentic Slovakia.
Find out more about it, and other, more light-hearted stories here.
EVENTS FOR THE COMING DAYS
Brace yourselves, Christmas is almost here
The Christmas tram in Bratislava. (source: TASR)
With Christmas around the corner, time is running short to get presents for your loved ones. If you can't find anything in ordinary stores, there's still time to visit several markets such as SAShE and others listed in our tips for events in the capital city. And once you have them, be sure to check out some of the parties as well.
If you are not in the capital and have a free weekend, we've also got you covered. In this story you will find some ideas about what to do, including new Christmas markets springing up, witnessing the Light of Bethlehem, and more.
IN OTHER NEWS
Had a general election taken place in December, Smer would have won with 24.2 percent of the vote, followed by Progresívne Slovensko (PS) with 21.4 and Hlas with 14.6, according to a poll carried out by AKO agency for TV Joj. The KDH, SaS, far-right Republika and SNS would also have made it into parliament. However, the coalition of the Slovensko movement, Kresťanská Únia and Za Ľudí would not. (TASR)
The state-budget deficit deepened by €3.224 billion, reaching €5.191 billion as of the end of November 2023, the Finance Ministry reported on Thursday. State-budget incomes increased by €3.768 billion, or 22.5 percent, to €20.501 billion. (TASR)
Members of the Judicial Council failed to oust chair Ján Mazák from his post on Thursday. Nine members voted for his dismissal, three abstained and three were against, but a total of ten votes were needed to achieve his ouster. The proposal was initiated by six members, some only very recently installed by the new government, who claim that Mazák has consistently violated his duties and his continued stay at the helm of the council might seriously undermine the trustworthiness of the judiciary. (TASR)
Slovakia has filed its fourth application for a payment from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, this one amounting to €924 million. Slovakia is the second EU country to file a fourth application. (TASR)
Repairs to the Vajnorská tram line. On Monday, December 18, tram services will resume on the line. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND
Saturday will be overcast, with occasional showers and fog. Daily temperatures will be between 0°C and 8°C. Sunday will be similar, but with precipitation in the northern regions, including snow at higher altitudes. Temperatures will rise to between 3°C and 8°C. A level 1 wind warning in mountains has been issued for Sunday in several districts of central, northern and eastern Slovakia (see map). (SHMÚ)
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