AGP Executive Report

Ukraine Funding: Slovakia will not join the proposed €70 billion EU loan for Ukraine in 2027, Prime Minister Robert Fico said, though Bratislava will not block other countries from contributing. He says Slovakia can support Kyiv through education, infrastructure and energy projects. Russia Ties: Fico plans to revive economic talks with Moscow after a five-year freeze, while also backing Serbian leader Aleksandar Vučić at a campaign rally in Novi Sad. Energy: Slovakia joined calls to delay the EU’s expanded carbon market as leaders argued over energy costs, but won no postponement. Mochovce’s fourth reactor has been connected to the grid. Innovation: Košice company MATSUKO and Pavol Jozef Šafárik University won a European REGIOSTARS award for technology that turns a standard camera into a live 3D hologram. Business and Technology: Tesla says supervised Full Self-Driving is approved in Slovakia, with rollout expected soon.

Ukraine Funding: Prime Minister Robert Fico says Slovakia will not join Kyiv’s request for €70 billion in EU aid for 2027, though it will not block other countries from contributing. He also opposes linking the loan to talks on the bloc’s long-term budget. Energy Costs: EU leaders ordered a fresh review of ETS2 carbon pricing but stopped short of delaying its planned 2028 launch, despite Slovakia’s push for a postponement amid high energy costs. Power Supply: Mochovce 4 has started feeding electricity to the grid. Its 471-megawatt capacity is expected to meet about 13% of Slovakia’s current electricity demand. Foreign Policy: Fico says Slovakia plans to resume economic talks with Russia after a five-year pause, while also holding talks with Ukraine. Defence: Parliament approved a 2027 budget allocating €3 billion to defence, or 2.2% of GDP.

Regional Politics: Prime Minister Robert Fico backed Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić at a campaign rally in Novi Sad, praising his defence of Serbian sovereignty. Ukraine Aid: Slovakia and Hungary will sit out a proposed EU funding mechanism for Kyiv but will not block other countries from contributing; Fico also opposes linking the loan to the next EU budget. Energy: Mochovce’s fourth nuclear unit has begun supplying electricity to the grid, adding capacity equal to about 13% of Slovakia’s current consumption. Innovation: Košice-based MATSUKO and Pavol Jozef Šafárik University won a 2026 REGIOSTARS award for AI technology that turns a camera feed into a live 3D hologram. Technology: Slovakia approved Tesla’s supervised driving system for use on its roads, with rollout expected soon. Defence: Parliament approved a 2027 budget that raises defence spending to €3 billion, or 2.2% of GDP.

Transport: Slovakia has recognized Tesla’s FSD Supervised approval, allowing the driver-assistance system on Slovak roads. Drivers remain responsible, and the system is not fully autonomous. EU Energy: At the Brussels summit, leaders agreed to review the design and safeguards of ETS2 but set no new start date. Slovakia joined other countries seeking a delay over concerns about energy costs. Public Finances: Parliament approved the 2027 state budget, with a planned deficit of 4.94% of GDP. Foreign Policy: Prime Minister Robert Fico plans to revive economic talks with Russia while also arranging talks with Ukraine. Prices: Slovakia’s inflation remained steady at 3.1%.

EU Climate Talks: Slovakia joined Italy and other Central European countries in pressing for changes to the EU carbon market over energy costs. EU leaders agreed to review the planned expansion of emissions pricing, but dropped a proposed delay until 2030. Relations with Russia and Ukraine: Prime Minister Robert Fico says Slovakia will hold talks with Ukraine in Lviv on 5 November and revive its economic commission with Russia on 25 November, restoring a forum dormant since the invasion of Ukraine. 2027 Budget: Parliament approved next year’s state budget, which sets a deficit of 4.94% of GDP. Fico says it will support growth, public-sector pay and help with energy prices. Prices: Inflation held at 3.1% in September, as falling food prices were offset by higher transport and housing costs. Australia Ties: Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár reopened Slovakia’s embassy in Canberra, citing opportunities for stronger trade, research and diplomatic cooperation.

Foreign Policy: Prime Minister Robert Fico says Slovakia will meet Ukrainian officials in Lviv on Nov. 5 to discuss humanitarian aid, border crossings and a school for Ukrainian children in Bratislava. He also plans to revive economic talks with Russia on Nov. 25, drawing criticism over renewed ties as Moscow’s war continues. Rights: A Slovak same-sex couple is challenging the state’s refusal to register their marriage, arguing it must comply with an EU ruling on recognising marriages made in another member state. Public Finances: Parliament has approved the 2027 budget, setting the deficit at 4.94% of GDP, up from an expected 4.37% this year. Innovation: Slovakia’s AI Holopresence project, developed by eastern Slovak firm MATSUKO and Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, won an EU REGIOSTARS award.

2027 Budget: Parliament approved a budget projecting a deficit of 4.94% of GDP, up from an expected 4.37% this year. The government says further savings will be needed to bring the deficit down in 2028 and 2029. Foreign Policy: Prime Minister Robert Fico says Slovakia will resume economic talks with Russia on 25 October and hold talks with Ukraine in Lviv on 5 November, drawing criticism at home over renewed cooperation with Moscow. Energy Cooperation: Slovakia and Bulgaria discussed closer ties on nuclear power, gas supplies and renewables, including access to LNG infrastructure and storage. EU Recognition: Slovak company MATSUKO and Pavol Jozef Šafárik University won a 2026 REGIOSTARS award for AI Holopresence, a 3D communication technology developed in eastern Slovakia.

2027 Budget: Parliament approved a budget projecting a 4.94% of GDP deficit, up from an expected 4.37% this year; further cuts will be needed to meet later targets. Foreign Policy: Robert Fico is preparing talks with Ukraine in Lviv on 5 November and an economic commission with Russia on 25 October, drawing opposition criticism. Energy: Slovakia has delayed connecting Mochovce’s fourth reactor after an unusual reaction during tests. Bratislava is also discussing nuclear and gas cooperation with Bulgaria, while Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár sees opportunities for joint civilian nuclear research with Australia. Digital Investment: President Peter Pellegrini told Amazon Web Services representatives Slovakia could help shape Europe’s digital transformation and attract strategic investment. E-waste: Slovakia was among just four EU countries to meet the alternative 2024 collection target for discarded electronics. Business: Brno burger chain Pickle is considering two or three Bratislava locations as it prepares to expand into Slovakia.

Nuclear Power: Slovakia has delayed connecting Mochovce’s fourth reactor to the grid after an unusual response during technical tests. Political Shake-up: Former environment minister Tomáš Taraba is collecting signatures to register a new party, which needs at least 10,000. Energy Security: Slovakia says it is preparing to replace Russian gas with Azerbaijani supplies in 2027; Prime Minister Robert Fico has called affordable electricity essential to stability. Ties with Russia: Slovakia has sent military attachés back to Moscow for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, drawing concern over the political signal and potential intelligence risks. Social Spending: Next year’s social budget is set to exceed €20 billion, with pension increases and family support planned; critics say people in poverty remain underserved. Business and Research: The EU approved Kimberly-Clark’s Kenvue takeover subject to divestments addressing competition concerns in Slovakia’s tampon market. Slovakia has also joined a European research-data network, giving researchers access to shared services and computing resources. Rights: A same-sex couple is suing over Slovakia’s refusal to register their marriage.

Energy Policy: Robert Fico told a Prague nuclear forum that reliable, affordable electricity is essential to Slovakia’s stability and competitiveness, and called for Europe to turn support for nuclear power into new capacity. Foreign Ties: Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár’s visit to Thailand focused on trade and cooperation in defence, cybersecurity, energy and water management; he described Thailand as Slovakia’s gateway to Southeast Asia. Russia Relations: Slovakia has restored military-attache contacts with Moscow for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drawing opposition warnings about intelligence risks. Bratislava also joined France and Luxembourg in pressing to remove Russian oligarchs from EU sanctions lists. Public Spending: The government plans to spend more than €20 billion on social affairs next year, including higher pensions for some people over 85; critics say support for families and people in poverty needs more than cash payments. Rights: A Slovak same-sex couple is suing over the refusal to recognise their Austrian marriage, testing the country’s obligations under EU law. Research and Business: Slovakia has joined the European Open Science Cloud, giving researchers access to shared data and computing resources. The European Commission is also investigating XXXLutz’s proposed takeover of Porta over competition concerns, including in Slovakia’s furniture market.

Energy Security: Slovakia is weighing gas supplies from Azerbaijan, Algeria and the United States as it prepares for EU restrictions on Russian imports in 2027. Economy Minister Denisa Saková says the country is exploring long-term contracts; a separate report says the government has secured enough gas for this winter. Trade Links: Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár says Slovakia can be Thailand’s gateway to the EU, while Thailand could open doors to Southeast Asia. His visit focused on economic ties, defence and a Slovak-Thai business forum. Business Competition: The European Commission has opened an in-depth probe into XXXLutz’s proposed takeover of Porta, citing concerns about reduced competition in furniture retail and purchasing in Slovakia, Germany and Czechia. Rule of Law: A civil liberties group says 96% of EU recommendations issued this year remain unfulfilled; Slovakia is among nine countries where at least half of assessed recommendations show persistent shortcomings. 2027 Budget: Parliament is debating the government’s draft, with Prime Minister Robert Fico expecting approval on Wednesday. Opposition lawmakers have criticised the deficit plan as Slovakia faces debt-brake sanctions.

2027 Budget: MPs continued debating the government’s deficit plan, which Prime Minister Robert Fico expects Parliament to approve on Wednesday. Opposition lawmakers say it breaches debt-brake rules; Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický argues the rules need reform. Energy: Slovakia is weighing long-term gas deals with Azerbaijan, Algeria and the US as it prepares for EU restrictions on Russian supplies in 2027. Economy Minister Denisa Saková says the country has secured enough gas for winter. Foreign Affairs: Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár is visiting Thailand and Australia with a business delegation to promote trade, investment and technology ties. The trip includes reopening Slovakia’s embassy in Canberra. EU Investment: Slovakia is among 16 member states hosting new EU strategic projects to strengthen critical raw-material supply chains. Security Ties: Slovakia and Russia have resumed military-attache contacts for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, following Fico’s pledge to restore them. Household Finances: A survey found 62% of Slovaks are now cautious savers, up from 35% last year, as economic uncertainty prompts more people to protect their savings. Ukraine: Slovakia has the EU’s second-highest share of people under temporary protection from Ukraine per capita, with 27.7 beneficiaries per 1,000 residents.

Diplomacy: Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár is visiting Thailand and Australia with a business delegation to build trade, investment and technology ties; it is the first Slovak foreign minister’s visit to Thailand in 21 years. Security Ties: Slovakia and Russia have restored military-attaché contacts for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, fulfilling a pledge by Prime Minister Robert Fico and drawing opposition warnings. Ukraine Policy: Bratislava was the only EU member to reject a pledge supporting the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia, prompting criticism from opposition party SaS. Energy: Economy Minister Denisa Saková says Slovakia has secured sufficient gas for winter, while talks with US officials explored LNG and alternative oil supplies ahead of a planned phaseout of Russian imports. Household Finances: A survey found 62% of Slovaks are cautious savers, up from 35% last year, as economic uncertainty encourages people to protect their savings. Budget: The government’s 2027 budget projects a deficit of 4.94% of GDP and has drawn criticism from both government and opposition figures.

Security and Russia: Slovakia has restored military-attaché contacts with Russia for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, fulfilling a pledge by Prime Minister Robert Fico. Ukraine: Bratislava was the only EU member state not to sign a pledge supporting the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia, drawing criticism from opposition lawmakers. Household Finances: A survey found the share of Slovaks classed as cautious savers rose from 35% to 62% in a year, as families seek to limit financial risk. Energy: Economy Minister Denisa Saková says gas supplies for winter are secured, with storage holding 17.5 TWh and a Gazprom contract available until September 2027. She is also seeking US LNG and alternative oil supplies as Slovakia plans to phase out Russian oil by the end of 2027.

Household Finances: Nearly two-thirds of Slovaks now take a cautious approach to money, up from 35% last year, a survey found. Confidence in paying monthly bills remained almost unchanged at 78%. 2027 Budget: The government’s draft projects a deficit of 4.94% of GDP and has drawn criticism from both government and opposition figures. Energy Security: Economy Minister Denisa Saková says gas supplies are secured for winter, with storage at 17.5 TWh and a Gazprom contract running until September 2027. She is also seeking US LNG and alternative oil supplies ahead of planned EU restrictions on Russian imports. Battery Investment: Volkswagen has taken a 49% stake in Slovakia’s Šurany battery project, deepening the country’s role in Europe’s electric-vehicle supply chain.

Energy Security: Slovakia says it has enough gas for winter, with storage filled to 17.5 TWh and a Gazprom contract running until September 2027. Economy Minister Denisa Saková is also seeking US LNG and alternative oil supplies ahead of the EU’s planned Russian-import ban. Healthcare: Slovakia and Iceland plan joint work on mental health, prevention and medical education, including expert events in 2027. Public Finances: The government’s 2027 budget projects a deficit of 4.94% of GDP and has drawn criticism from both government and opposition figures. Technology: Tesla has replaced “Full Self-Driving” with “Assisted Driving” on its Slovak website as it seeks regulatory approval in Europe.