EU presidency
News and analysis on Slovakia in the EU Council
I’ve given two years to the EU presidency scandal. I’m leaving.
Whistleblower Hlávková to Foreign Minister Lajčák: You can still tell the truth.Zuzana Hlávková5. Sep 2018, at 12:21
Audit authority found violations of law at Foreign Ministry
In general, Slovakia handled the EU Presidency well, assessed the Supreme Audit Office.Compiled by Spectator staff, 20. Feb 2018, at 1:24
Economic competition was not distorted during EU Council’s presidency
Despite suggestions of media reports, rules of economic competition were not distorted in Foreign Ministry’s orders during Slovakia’s presidency of the EU Council, the Anti-trust Office finds.Compiled by Spectator staff, 18. Jan 2018, at 13:48
United we stand strong
We realise it will not be easy, but we know what we want to achieve and know we can do it, Ambassador Yordanka Chobanova writes as Bulgaria starts its first EU Council Presidency.Yordanka Chobanova5. Jan 2018, at 13:03
Audit Office found no crime, but flaws in Slovakia’s EU Council’s presidency
NKÚ announced that there were no crimes committed by the Slovak organisers of the country’s presidency of EU Council, but added mistakes were made, including incomplete invoices, flawed accountancy and a formal…Compiled by Spectator staff, 19. Dec 2017, at 13:59
Updated: 20. Jun 2017, at 23:45
UPDATED: Antimonopoly Office stops investigation of presidency orders
The Foreign Affairs Ministry welcomes the decision, but the ethics watchdog says the scrutiny lacked depth.Compiled by Spectator staff, 20. Jun 2017, at 13:30
UPDATED: 27. Apr 2017, at 8:00
UPDATED: MFA did not violate laws with presidency events
The inspection of the Public Procurement Office has not revealed any flaws, despite the criticism of former ministry employees.Compiled by Spectator staff, 26. Apr 2017, at 14:09
EU parliaments to create joint group to supervise Europol activities
Its first session is planned for the autumn.Compiled by Spectator staff, 24. Apr 2017, at 22:34
Minister Lajčák refutes accusation saying tender not legally needed
Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák reacted to most recent accusation by a former ministry employee, retorting that nobody wittingly made a slip in conenction with the Slovak EU presidency.Compiled by Spectator staff, 15. Mar 2017, at 23:05
Ombudswoman: MFA violated the constitution
Transparency International Slovensko now prepares a lawsuit.Compiled by Spectator staff, 28. Feb 2017, at 22:59
Police will check overpriced EU presidency
The presidency will also be scrutinised by state auditors.Compiled by Spectator staff, 21. Feb 2017, at 13:35
Slovak presidency of EU did not interest Eurosceptics
Slovak Presidency of the EU Council resonated in two thirds of the population, however, it had no impact on perception of the EU.Compiled by Spectator staff, 13. Feb 2017, at 23:23
Roaming fees to end this summer
In June 2017, roaming fees within the different countries of the EU will end for calling, sending short text messages and surfing on the internet.Compiled by Spectator staff, 9. Feb 2017, at 14:24
EU presidency seen as a success
Slovakia’s first-ever EU presidency took place in unprecedented and turbulent times. Slovakia managed well, although some programme points remain unfulfilled.Michaela Terenzani, Radka Minarechová, 10. Jan 2017, at 14:29
MFA published documents on presidency events on its site
But a non-affiliated MP warns that none of them disprove accusations.Compiled by Spectator staff, 4. Jan 2017, at 13:45
Over 4,500 soldiers deployed during presidency
Defence minister praises the performance of his department.Compiled by Spectator staff, 3. Jan 2017, at 23:55
Foreign Ministry refuses to show presidency documents
Transparency International Slovensko accuses the ministry of “arrogant tactics of violating the law”.Compiled by Spectator staff, 3. Jan 2017, at 13:33
Politicians comment on Slovak EU Presidency
The presidency winds up on December 31; some Slovak politicians are now summing up the past six months.Compiled by Spectator staff, 30. Dec 2016, at 12:30
Javorčík proud of Presidency’s trade achievements
Malta takes over the EU presidency from January 1.Compiled by Spectator staff, 29. Dec 2016, at 14:03
Fico: Good that EU Summit ends with “effective solidarity”
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico commented on the European Council’s conclusions about country’s Presidency of the Council of the EU.Compiled by Spectator staff, 19. Dec 2016, at 13:53
- 1. MFA: It is too early to talk about complete easing of borders (news digest) Photo
- 2. Coronavirus imported to Slovakia from over 50 countries
- 3. New rules for wearing masks come into force
- 4. People from Slovakia will be able to stay abroad for longer, cinemas and theatres to open on Sundays
- 5. The sad reality behind the masks
- 6. Coronavirus in Slovakia: 5 new cases confirmed (graphs)
- 7. Cycling to Uhlisko: Climate change brings new views Photo
- 8. Sunday shopping ban on the table again
- 9. Coronavirus comes with an irreversible change to Slovakia's labour market
- 10. The European Commission wants to see more medical workers in Slovakia
- 1. People from Slovakia will be able to stay abroad for longer, cinemas and theatres to open on Sundays
- 2. MFA: It is too early to talk about complete easing of borders (news digest) Photo
- 3. Some airlines plan to launch flights soon
- 4. Operators of fitness centres blocked a highway to Bratislava (news digest) Photo
- 5. Coronavirus in Slovakia: 5 new cases confirmed (graphs)
- 6. A riot in Smer: Pellegrini calls on Fico to step down (news digest)
- 7. Coronavirus travel restrictions on Slovakia's borders: How to visit the neighbouring countries
- 8. Coronavirus imported to Slovakia from over 50 countries
- 9. COVID-19: How Slovakia shut down and reopened again
- 10. Austrian chancellor sees summer tourism as a zero-sum game
- 1. People from Slovakia will be able to stay abroad for longer, cinemas and theatres to open on Sundays
- 2. E-quarantine failed to launch as scheduled, people are waiting at border crossings
- 3. Coronavirus in Slovakia: 5 new cases confirmed (graphs)
- 4. Coronavirus travel restrictions on Slovakia's borders: How to visit the neighbouring countries
- 5. MFA: It is too early to talk about complete easing of borders (news digest) Photo
- 6. Austrian chancellor sees summer tourism as a zero-sum game
- 7. Border checks prolonged until late June (news digest)
- 8. How the app for smart quarantine will work
- 9. Smart quarantine finally launched
- 10. Some airlines plan to launch flights soon