Joint meeting of top representatives of Hungary, Slovakia and Serbia an migration, Slovakia receives the fourth payment from the recovery plan despite previous reservations of the European Commission and hospital doctors ready to resign en masse.
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This week, Prime Minister Robert Fico, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held a joint meeting in Komárno, Slovakia where they discussed illegal migration, EU border protection, and regional cooperation. The representatives agreed on the need to fight against irregular migration jointly.
According to the Slovak government, cooperation with the Western Balkans, particularly Serbia, is crucial for improving the migration situation in Europe.
After a separate meeting between Hungarian and Slovak Ministers of Defence, Hungarian Defence Minister stated that Hungary remains determined to continue to help Slovakia control its airspace until Slovakia restores its own national capacity of combat aircraft. The Slovak Defence Minister announced that the Ministry negotiates changes in the defence agreement with the USA.
Slovakia received approval for the full payment of the fourth instalment from the recovery plan worth €923 million. The European Commission also confirmed that the penal code amendment does not contradict the milestones of the recovery plan.
Hospital doctors are prepared to file their resignation notices en masse by the end of October, with 2,462 doctors already having drafted them, the head of the Doctors Trade Union Peter Visolajský announced this week. The Slovak Towns and Villages association warned that the announced mass resignations of doctors in hospitals would mean a total collapse of the health-care system. The Parliamentary Health Committee Vice-chair Oskar Dvorak from the Progresivne Slovensko party criticised the new Health Minister Kamil Saško for not engaging in dialogue with the doctors.
Three lawmakers centred around Rudolf Huliak are leaving the Slovak National Party (SNS) caucus. Huliak said the trio would continue to comply with the Government Manifesto and support the Cabinet of Robert Fico. After the three MPs left the caucus, it would have caused the end of it, as at least 8 members are needed for a caucus to exist. Its existence was saved after a member of the Smer-SD party became a member of the SNS caucus.
Government proxy for the investigation into COVID-19 pandemic management Peter Kotlar has said that he stands by his recent report on the pandemic, claiming that if the government does not deal with it by the end of October, he'll resign and return to Parliament. He said this after the Interior Minister announced that the Office for the Fight Against Organized Crime is forming a new investigative team to look into Slovakia’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kotlár spoke against this step. Last week, Prime Minister Robert Fico said he did not see everything he wanted to in the report and he will ask him to look into economic aspects like who the providers of the testing were or who ordered the big quantities of vaccines in 2022. In the view of the prime Minister, they were not needed at that time.
The Interior Ministry has settled a dispute with former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, acknowledging that he was wrongfully listed as an agent of the former State Security (ŠtB). In response, Babiš expressed confidence, stating he never doubted he would win the case. But Andrej Babiš remains listed as a secret collaborator in the 'agent' category in the registration protocols of the communist secret service, the Nation's Memory Institute (UPN) said in reaction to the settlement. The Ministry explained that it reached the settlement after independent legal analyses revealed a high risk of losing the case, which could have resulted in significant financial losses.
Slovakia has potential in the Slovaks who live abroad, and the government and society should realise that, said President Peter Pellegrini in a video address to participants of a conference organised by the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad. The president pointed out that many Slovaks leave for abroad, he believes that they should be motivated to return. But according to the latest survey, as much as 42 percent of university students want to leave after finishing their bachelor degree to study their masters abroad. Every fifth Slovak student studies abroad, according to a different survey from the last year.
Coalition member Hlas-SD party plans to unveil next year a proposal to change the Slovak election system, Hlas-SD chair and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok announced after the party's programme conference last weekend. The aim of the proposal is to elevate the standing of regions.
The pay gap between women and men in the same posts is currently 18.4 percent, which means that women in Slovakia will work the final two months of the year for free, according to the latest 'Equal Pay Day' survey. An initial salary of women starting their career amounts to €1460, which is €41 less than that of men.
The Education Ministry has announced a call for research and development projects concerning space technologies called 'SPACE - Top Research and Development from Idea to Product', with €10 million being allocated for the call. Priority will be given to projects with international potential that will contribute to Slovakia's involvement in the activities of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the EU Space Programme.
Slovaks declare to be less happy than inhabitants in any other European countries, according to an international survey aimed at inquiring about the subjective perception of happiness. Countries with highest self-reported happiness levels are Switzerland, Finland, and Norway, Slovakia ranked at the bottom.
