Good to have you on board! Here’s your latest Today in Slovakia – Thursday’s top news, all in one place.
Tariffs threaten Slovakia’s economic backbone
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (source: TASR/AP )
Slovakia’s automotive sector faces a harsh reckoning after the United States announced a sweeping 25 percent tariff on all imported cars — a move set to take effect on 2 April. The policy, championed by US President Donald Trump, is intended to revive America’s ailing industrial heartlands and stimulate national economic growth.
But industry experts warn that the reality may be far less rosy — particularly for countries like Slovakia, whose economies are tightly bound to car exports. “This is perverse logic, but it’s exactly how Trump thinks,” said former finance minister Ivan Mikloš in an interview with Index magazine. According to him, Trump prefers a world ruled by the law of the jungle, where the stronger side imposes its will on the weaker. “That’s one reason he gets along so well with Putin.”
The numbers underscore the risk. Last year, Slovak firms exported goods worth €107 billion, with €4.11 billion — roughly 3.8 percent — going to the United States. Some 87 percent of that total came from car exports, worth €3.6 billion. In relative terms, no other European country is so dependent on car sales to the US.
The looming tariffs are expected to land a direct blow to Slovak manufacturers already grappling with competition from cheaper Chinese vehicles.
Car exports to the US represent 2.5 percent of Slovakia’s GDP — more than eight times the EU average of 0.3 percent. The broader automotive sector accounts for around 13 percent of national GDP and supports an estimated 250,000 jobs, directly and indirectly.
The new tariffs may mark a pivotal moment — not just for Slovakia’s car industry, but for the economic model on which the country has come to rely.
VW: Among Slovak carmakers, Volkswagen’s factory in Bratislava stands to be hit hardest if the United States imposes new tariffs on imported vehicles. One in every four cars produced at the plant is exported to the US. If the German manufacturer passes the cost of tariffs on to consumers, the price of its vehicles would rise, making them less competitive against cars manufactured within the United States. Weaker demand from this key market could lead to a reduction in output and potentially to job losses in Slovakia. The question, however, is whether Volkswagen will respond by shifting part of its production from Slovakia to the US to sidestep the tariffs altogether.
JLR: Of all carmakers operating in Slovakia, only Jaguar Land Rover’s plant in Nitra still exports vehicles to the United States. The Defender and Discovery models, both manufactured in Slovakia, remain available on the American market.
Jaguar Land Rover Slovakia (source: TASR - Henrich Mišovič)
Central bank: This week, Slovakia’s central bank assessed the potential impact of a US-EU trade war. Smaller, open economies such as Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary would suffer the most.
Opposition: Slovakia’s opposition parties have called for an emergency meeting of the parliamentary economic committee to discuss possible responses to looming US tariffs. Lawmakers say they want to hear concrete proposals to mitigate the impact on Slovak industry. Moreover, opposition leaders have criticised Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) for failing to achieve any tangible results during his recent visit to the United States, despite boasting about his meeting with Elon Musk. They also took aim at Slovakia’s European Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, accusing him of delivering no progress in talks with Washington.
Government: Slovakia’s government is aware of the country’s heavy reliance on car manufacturing and, instead of ramping up arms production, will ask the EU for support for its automotive industry, PM Robert Fico (Smer) said on social media. Economy Minister Denisa Saková of the Hlas party expressed hope that President Donald Trump might delay the implementation of tariffs. However, Saková added that the most effective changes would ultimately have to come from the carmakers themselves.
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Health decisions: Ambulance, outpatient or ER? How to choose the right care in Slovakia.
Cold case: Slovakia’s top court has upheld the convictions of three men in the long-unsolved murder of René Sánka, bringing closure to a 2001 gangland killing meant to silence a key witness.
Pipeline problem: At the current rate of construction, full sewage coverage in Slovakia will not happen until at least 2057 — putting EU funds at risk and leaving 1.5 million people without a connection.
Second chance: A century-old tower in central Slovakia that once held both water and a telescope is finally set for revival, with plans for a café, museum, and stargazing spot after decades of neglect.
Weekend vibes: Art, plants and a walk in the woods — all for free in Bratislava this week.
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WHAT’S CHANGED IN 30 YEARS?
Everything. And nothing.
Curisu Gril in Bratislava, a buffet-style fast food restaurant favoured before the revolution. (source: Courtesy, D. S.)
From suspicious border checks to smooth (if roundabout) drives, and from grumpy waiters to friendly baristas, Slovakia has transformed in countless ways over the past three decades. But some things – like mountain hikes, football swearing, and the unrelenting kindness of Slovak hospitality – never change. A nostalgic, wry look at life then and now by Daniel J. Stoll, one of the founders of The Slovak Spectator.
MINTED AND MEME’D
€950 for this?
A medal depicting President Peter Pellegrini. (source: Facebook/Michal Smrčok)
Slovakia’s new president is already a collector’s item — even if his medal does not look quite like him.
The Slovak media has been abuzz with news of commemorative medals featuring the likeness of President Peter Pellegrini, freshly struck by the Kremnica Mint. Designed by Roman Lugár, the 1,600-piece edition includes gold (€950), silver (€60), and brass (€25.50) versions — and they have all sold out. Not everyone’s impressed. Critics have said the portrait bears little resemblance to the real Pellegrini. Still, the president appears unfazed. The Slovak internet, meanwhile, had more fun with a spoof version showing Gerry, Pellegrini’s dog, as the nation’s leader.
Former president Zuzana Čaputová did not fare much better during her term: she distanced herself from her own minted image, though she held no grudge against the mint. Slovaks responded in kind — with a flood of memes that, at the very least, gave the president a laugh.
IN OTHER NEWS
The switch to daylight saving time this weekend will, as usual, delay overnight trains. At 2:00 on Sunday, March 30, clocks move forward one hour — causing a 60-minute hold-up for night services.
MPs have approved a lifetime pension of over €5,000 for the general prosecutor, even if he leaves office early — a move critics say paves the way for Maroš Žilinka’s premature departure. Opposition MPs called it a reward for Žilinka’s silence on contentious legal reforms, while he rejected claims of a political deal and denied ambitions to join the Constitutional Court.
A group of mayors from central Slovakia has proposed creating a second parliamentary chamber, the Council of Self-Government, to review and potentially veto laws affecting towns and regions. Banská Bystrica Region Governor Ondrej Lunter said local governments provide most public services but lack real influence in the legislative process. The initiative, drafted with constitutional lawyer Radoslav Procházka, will be shared with local associations and all MPs.
Slovakia has reported no new outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, with the number of cases remaining at four.
Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný on Thursday criticised Slovakia for using inadequately sealed vehicles to transport animals culled due to foot-and-mouth disease. Výborný said he had called his Slovak counterpart, Richard Takáč, to demand better safeguards and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Slovakia has reopened its small border crossings with Hungary after closing them on Wednesday due to a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease near Bratislava. Disinfection units for vehicles were installed overnight.
Slovakia’s industrial producer prices for the domestic market rose by 2.4 percent year-on-year in February 2025, ending a 13-month streak of declines. The increase was driven by higher energy prices and gains in transport vehicle manufacturing and rubber and plastic production, though only 12 of 16 sectors saw growth. (source: Statistics Office)
Nearly eight in ten Slovaks say they have felt the impact of the government’s austerity measures, with most describing the effects as negative. The biggest blow, according to respondents, was January’s VAT hike from 20 to 23 percent. Rising household expenses were far more common than income losses, an MNFORCE poll for Hospodárske noviny found.
A new telephone line for health services will be set up in Slovakia and run by the Emergency Health Service Operational Centre, lawmakers decided Thursday.
FRIDAY WEATHER BRIEFING: Cloudy to overcast, with fewer clouds at first. Daytime temperatures between 12°C and 20°C. (SHMÚ)
Wooden benches in the Čerenec and Tlstá hora (426 m a.s.l.) nature reserve in the Little Carpathians, along the educational trail above the village of Prašník on 21 March 2025. (source: TASR - Martin Medňanský)
HAPPY NAME DAY: March 28 is a special day for Soňa, so if you know one, don’t forget to send your warmest wishes. Všetko najlepšie!
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