MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, November 9, 2024 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, November 8): BUDAPEST - If the European Union (EU) proposes to increase financial aid to Ukraine after the USA cuts its support, and it would be to the detriment of the member states, Slovakia shouldn't participate in such games, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated following an informal summit in Budapest on Friday. "If there are proposals to increase financial aid at the expense of the EU member states just because a big supporter [USA] drops out of the game, Slovakia shouldn't take part in such games because the conflict has no military solution," said the Slovak premier. According to him, the EU's current strategy is that "Ukraine must win this war and Russia must lose it. It is also the EU's strategy to support Ukraine militarily and financially so that it is strong enough to negotiate." However, he reminded the other leaders that from his point of view, neither of these strategies is working. They are "nice strategies, but neither is working". According to Fico, it's clear that Ukraine is failing militarily and that "the sanctions system hasn't damaged the Russian Federation as expected, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin has record support". Fico stated that it's currently unclear what stance US President-elect Donald Trump will take on Ukraine. The prime minister doesn't think that Trump will address the Ukrainian conflict through force. Rather, he may take the path of compromise or by reducing support for Ukraine. The current EU strategies will therefore not be relevant after the reduction of US support, in his view. "I can't quite see the EU taking on the entire burden of supporting the war in Ukraine," stated Fico. PARIS - The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) should be more at the centre of attention of the Slovak public and the people should know the importance of Slovakia's membership of this institution and the extent to which it expands the professional capacity for informed decision-making and policy-making, President Peter Pellegrini said in his address at the OECD Council meeting in Paris on Friday. Membership of this organisation is, in his opinion, one of the most important achievements of our country. "Being part of the world's most prestigious intellectual power is something we can be really proud of," said the Slovak head of state, adding that he considers multi-lateralism to be a fundamental pillar of Slovakia's stability. According to him, the OECD is a constant source of information and support for our country, and in the past the institution's advice also helped with the economic transformation of our market. Pellegrini believes that Slovakia should also be an active contributor to this organisation, which should be helped by hosting the OECD Global Forum on the Future of Education and Skills next year. In this context, the President praised the cooperation between the organisation and Slovak universities, which enables short-term internships of Slovak students at various OECD headquarters. BRATISLAVA - A company should be set up in Slovakia that will gradually acquire investments for research related to the reuse of spent nuclear fuel, President Peter Pellegrini said on Friday, adding that necessary discussions are currently underway between the Economy Ministry and foreign partners. "It may be necessary for the government to adopt some decision soon, so that the process is started, of course, and specific building of a research centre in which we'll do this will begin. I'll encourage the government officials to do their best to prevent this research project from going to another country," said the president. If Slovakia were successful in such a project, it would have enough nuclear fuel for its own market and could provide this service to all countries in Europe, added Pellegrini. This could then represent a significant source of revenue for the domestic economy. BRATISLAVA - Thanks to the incumbent government, the next pandemic in Slovakia could be even more catastrophic than the last one, the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) warned on Friday in reaction to a bill concerning compensation for individuals in connection with anti-pandemic measures that was approved by Parliament earlier this week. KDH MP Peter Stachura opined that Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has legitimised all those who didn't wear face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, didn't respect the curfews and knowingly participated in mass protest rallies. "With this, Robert Fico is definitively siding with the anti-system, a policy based on abusing human emotions and instincts - fear, anger, hatred," remarked Stachura. Fico, according to KDH, abused the pandemic crisis for his own political ends. "He started organising anti-government protests, collecting signatures for a referendum against the then government, rejected vaccination and quite openly began to sympathise with the disinformation scene," stated KDH. KDH MP Frantisek Majersky opined that the government is sending the public a message not to respect public institutions and government regulations and to do whatever it pleases. "Don't get vaccinated, eat Ivermectin paste for horses and pump yourself with artificial vitamin supplements instead. Don't be intimidated and ignore regulations aimed at reducing the transmission of contagious diseases. Don't wear face masks, gather, protest, it's your right. Don't take others into consideration," remarked Majersky. BRATISLAVA - The best small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Diamonds of Slovak Business ranking have notched up yearly revenue increases of over 20 percent, twice as big as those of large companies, stated the ranking organisers, Forbes magazine and Enterprise Investors, on Friday. The Diamonds of Slovak Business award has been ranking the fastest-growing Slovak small and medium-sized enterprises since 2009. It includes businesses without foreign capital that have reported profits and annual sales of between €5-50 million for at least the past two years. The ranking is based on criteria such as revenue growth, profitability, ethical management practices and the social aspects of business. Heneken Conductors, which specialises in the production of high-voltage conductors at its factories in Slovakia, South Africa, Canada and Turkey, was ranked first in Bratislava. In western Slovakia, Pharmagal-Bio, a leading Slovak producer of veterinary immunological products, took the top spot. BRATISLAVA - Slovakia's industrial output grew by 2.5 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) in September 2024, the Statistics Office reported on Friday. The pace of growth accelerated despite more sectors of industry showing declines than increases. In total, only six of the 15 sectors monitored reported year-on-year increases, but their contribution to overall output growth was significantly higher than industries that recorded falls. Slovak industry recorded an increase for the third month in a row. September's growth was mainly supported by car production and the energy sector. In contrast, the most significant drop was reported in metal production. The most significant impact on industrial growth was a 11.3-percent increase in the production of means of transport. This key industrial sector posted y-o-y growth for only the fourth time this year, with September's increase the second highest in 2024. am