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Last refreshed: 28/07/2026 05:39 · 38 articles added
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Economy

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Economy

Slovakia's Investment Ministry to Fund Only Minimum Projects From Digital Call, Jeopardizing Recovery Plan Targets

Slovakia's Ministry of Investment will support only a bare minimum of projects from a digital funding call, leaving the remaining applicants without financial backing. The decision risks undermining a key milestone tied to Slovakia's Recovery and Resilience Plan — the country's post-pandemic roadmap funded by the European Union that sets specific spending and reform targets Slovakia must meet to receive EU funds. By funding only enough projects to technically satisfy the milestone requirement while rejecting the rest, the ministry is meeting the letter but not the spirit of its commitments under the plan. The move raises concerns about Slovakia's ability to effectively absorb EU recovery funds and deliver on its digital transformation goals, which are central to the country's long-term economic modernization strategy.

SME
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Economy

Slovakia's Transport Authority Launches Tender for River Information Services System

Slovakia's Transport Authority has launched a public procurement tender for a two-year contract to maintain and develop its river information services system. The selected contractor will be responsible for maintenance, technical support, operational assistance, system development, and reporting. River information services are digital navigation and monitoring systems used to manage inland waterway traffic, providing data on water levels, vessel movements, and infrastructure conditions — critical for safe and efficient use of Slovakia's river transport network, particularly along the Danube.

SMETASR/Teraz
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Economy

Slovakia Tightens Rules for Airbnb and Booking.com Hosts, Mandating Registration and Tax Payments

Slovakia is introducing stricter regulations for property owners who rent out accommodation through online platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com, requiring them to register with a new national registry and comply with a range of tax obligations. Under the new rules, hosts must enroll in the registry by February 28, 2027. Once registered, they will be required to pay value-added tax (VAT) on commissions charged by the platforms, maintain a guest log recording the details of all visitors, and remit a local accommodation tax to the municipality or town where the property is located. The move reflects a broader effort by Slovak authorities to bring the short-term rental sector — which has grown rapidly due to the popularity of platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com — into the formal tax system. Across Europe, governments have increasingly sought to regulate the short-term rental market, citing concerns about lost tax revenue, housing affordability, and uneven competition with licensed hotels and guesthouses. Slovakia's new framework aligns the country with similar measures adopted elsewhere in the European Union. Property owners who fail to comply risk penalties, though specific enforcement mechanisms were not detailed in the available information.

Dennik N
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Economy

Slovak Industrial Producer Prices Rise 2.9% Year-on-Year in May

Industrial producer prices in Slovakia rose 2.9% in May compared to the same month a year earlier, according to data from the country's statistical office. The increase was recorded across 12 of the 16 industrial sectors monitored, indicating broad-based upward price pressure throughout the manufacturing and production economy. Producer price indices, which measure the prices that businesses charge for their goods before they reach consumers, are closely watched as an early indicator of future consumer inflation trends.

SME
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Economy

EuroCity Train Service Between Slovakia and Budapest Suspended for Over a Month

EuroCity train services connecting Slovakia to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, will be replaced by bus connections for more than a month due to railway reconstruction works on the line. The EuroCity service is an international express train network operating across Central Europe, and the Slovak-Hungarian rail corridor is a key transit route for both commuters and travelers between the two neighboring countries. No further details on the precise dates of the suspension or the scale of the reconstruction works were immediately available.

SME
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Economy

Polish Discount Retailer Biedronka Set to Enter Bratislava Market

Biedronka, one of Poland's largest discount supermarket chains, is expanding into Bratislava more than a year after first entering the Slovak market. The move marks a significant test for the retailer, as the Slovak capital represents a far more competitive and densely served urban market compared to the smaller towns where it has operated in Slovakia so far. Biedronka, owned by the Portuguese retail group Jerónimo Martins, has built its reputation in Poland as a budget-friendly grocery chain with an extensive store network. Its entry into Slovakia came as part of a broader international expansion strategy. Operating successfully in Bratislava — home to roughly half a million people and already served by major domestic and international supermarket chains — will be a key indicator of whether the brand can compete in larger Slovak urban centers.

Bratislavak
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Economy

Short-Term Inflation Expectations Among Eurozone Consumers Ease

Short-term inflation expectations among consumers in the eurozone have moderated, according to the latest data, while longer-term expectations remained unchanged. The easing of near-term price outlooks may offer some relief to the European Central Bank, which sets monetary policy for the 20-nation eurozone and has been closely monitoring consumer sentiment as part of its effort to bring inflation back to its 2% target following a prolonged period of elevated prices across Europe.

SME
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Economy

Slovak Healthcare Group Penta Hospitals International Acquires Estonian Care Network Südamekodud

Penta Hospitals International, the healthcare arm of Slovak private equity group Penta Investments, is acquiring Südamekodud, an Estonian care home network. The transaction is subject to the fulfillment of customary closing conditions. Penta Investments is one of Central Europe's largest private investment groups, with holdings spanning healthcare, real estate, and financial services across multiple European countries. The acquisition marks a further expansion of Penta's healthcare footprint into the Baltic region.

TASR/Teraz
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Economy

June 30 Deadline Approaches for Deferred Slovak Tax Returns

Slovak taxpayers who filed for an extension on their annual tax returns face a final deadline of June 30. Those who have not yet settled their tax obligations may still apply for installment payment plans or request a further deferral under certain conditions. To handle the expected surge in inquiries ahead of the deadline, Slovakia's Financial Administration — the national tax authority — has reinforced its call center with additional staff and extended office hours at tax offices across the country.

Aktuality
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Economy

Prešov Region Plans €7.1 Million Loan to Modernize Student Dormitory in Svit

The Prešov self-governing region, one of Slovakia's eight administrative regions located in the northeast of the country, plans to take out a loan of €7.1 million to modernize a dormitory at a polytechnic school in Svit, a town in the region. Regional authorities intend to use the borrowed funds to upgrade the student accommodation facility, which falls under regional administration. In Slovakia, self-governing regions are responsible for managing secondary schools and their associated facilities, including student dormitories.

Korzár
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Economy

Bolt Holds First Driver Forum in Bratislava to Address Partner Concerns

Ride-hailing platform Bolt brought together 20 of its partner drivers from across Slovakia in Bratislava last week for the company's first Driver Forum, an event designed to open a direct dialogue between the company and the people who work on its platform. Drivers discussed a range of issues central to their daily work, including earnings, safety, and the terms of their cooperation with Bolt. The forum marks a notable step toward structured engagement between the app-based transport company and its driver partners, who operate as independent contractors rather than employees. Bolt, an Estonian-founded competitor to Uber operating across Europe and Africa, has expanded significantly in Slovak cities in recent years. The event reflects growing attention to the working conditions and concerns of gig economy workers — people who earn income through digital platforms without traditional employment contracts — as debates about their status and rights intensify across the European Union.

Aktuality
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Economy

U.S. Stock Markets Fall as Apple Price Hikes and Chip Costs Weigh on Tech Giants

U.S. stock markets declined throughout the week, with technology shares leading the downturn as competing market forces ultimately tipped negative. Apple announced price increases of 20 percent on MacBooks and iPads, attributing the hikes to rising chip costs — a development that rattled investor confidence in the so-called Magnificent Seven, a group of the seven largest and most influential technology companies on U.S. markets. The price increases and underlying cost pressures on semiconductors compounded broader concerns weighing on equities, contributing to sustained losses across the week.

Dennik N
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Economy

Slovak Children's Brand Dráčik Posts Worst Results in a Decade Amid Competition and Austerity

Slovak children's goods retailer Dráčik has recorded its worst financial performance in ten years, as the company faces mounting competition and a broader trend of consumer belt-tightening. The brand, which sells children's clothing, toys, and related products, has also begun laying off staff as it struggles to adapt to a tougher retail environment. At the same time, the number of questionable promotional posts associated with the company has been increasing, raising additional concerns about its marketing practices. Dráčik's difficulties reflect wider pressures on Slovak consumer retail, where households have been cutting back on discretionary spending amid economic uncertainty, while new competitors have entered the market.

SME
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Economy

Slovakia Receives Most EU Budget Funds Per Capita Among Visegrad Four Nations

Slovakia receives more money back from the European Union budget than any other member of the Visegrad Four group — the regional alliance of Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary — making EU membership a critical driver of the country's economic development. All four Visegrad nations are net recipients from the EU budget, meaning they receive more than they contribute, but Slovakia currently leads the group in the ratio of funds returned. Hungary previously held that distinction, though it no longer does. Poland receives the least relative to its contributions among the four countries. For Slovakia, EU membership translates into a substantial financial advantage: the revenues flowing in from the EU — primarily funded by wealthier Western European member states — account for a large share of total investment in the country, and the funds received are several times greater than Slovakia's own contributions to the EU budget. This dynamic underscores how deeply dependent Slovak infrastructure, regional development, and public investment remain on European structural and cohesion funds.

Dennik N
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Economy

OECD Urges Slovakia to Scrap Transaction Tax, Cut Spending, and Shorten Parental Leave

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has issued a fresh economic review of Slovakia, recommending significant changes to the country's fiscal consolidation strategy and warning that recent policy choices are hampering economic growth. The OECD called on Slovakia's ruling coalition to focus budget consolidation on cutting expenditures rather than raising taxes, arguing that tax increases cause substantial damage to economic output. Among the specific measures the organization criticized is Slovakia's financial transaction tax — a levy on bank transactions introduced by the government as part of its effort to reduce the fiscal deficit — which the OECD recommended abolishing. The international body also criticized what it described as overly generous energy subsidies and recommended shortening Slovakia's parental leave scheme, which is among the longest in Europe. Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický rejected the recommendation on parental leave. The review highlights structural weaknesses in the Slovak economy at a time when the government, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD party, is under pressure to reduce a fiscal deficit that has drawn scrutiny from the European Union. Slovakia entered an EU excessive deficit procedure, meaning Brussels is monitoring its public finances and requiring corrective action. The OECD's chief economist Stefano Scarpetta delivered the findings, reinforcing concerns that the coalition's current mix of tax hikes and spending measures may not be the most effective path to fiscal sustainability. The tension between the government's chosen approach and international recommendations underscores the difficult trade-offs Slovakia faces as it attempts to stabilize its public finances without choking economic growth.

Dennik N
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Economy

Fuel Prices Drop Significantly in Slovakia as Global Oil Prices Fall

Fuel prices at Slovak petrol stations have fallen noticeably, driven by a sharp decline in global crude oil prices. The price of Brent crude — the international benchmark used to set fuel costs worldwide — has dropped by more than 35% compared to its peak levels from early May. The decline reflects broader trends in global energy markets and has translated into lower costs at the pump for Slovak drivers. Despite the relief for consumers, motorists in neighboring Poland and the Czech Republic continue to enjoy cheaper fuel prices than those available in Slovakia, maintaining those countries' advantage as the most affordable places to refuel in the region.

SMETASR/Teraz
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Economy

Tesco Expands Slovak Footprint with Two New Stores, Online Delivery Now Reaches 85% of Population

British retail giant Tesco is expanding its presence in Slovakia with the opening of two new stores on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The new locations are situated in Chorvátsky Grob, a municipality in the Senec district near Bratislava, and in Zákamenné, a village in the Námestovo district in the Orava region of northern Slovakia. The openings extend Tesco's retail network from the country's north to its south. Alongside the physical expansion, Tesco announced that its Online Nákupy — the chain's online grocery shopping and home delivery service — now covers 85 percent of Slovakia's population, marking a significant increase in the reach of e-commerce grocery options for Slovak households.

Aktuality
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Economy

Build Wealth Through Discipline, Not Quick Gains, Slovak Investment Expert Advises

Slovak investment specialist Maroš Ovčarik is urging everyday investors to prioritize consistency and patience over chasing rapid profits. Ovčarik, development director at Brokeria, a Slovak investment brokerage firm, says that wealth is built through regular contributions and long-term thinking rather than short-term speculation. In an interview, he outlined tailored strategies for different age groups: people in their thirties — many of whom are managing mortgage repayments — should focus primarily on equity-based ETF (exchange-traded fund) index funds, which offer diversified market exposure at low cost. Older investors, by contrast, should gradually shift their portfolios toward more conservative assets to reduce risk as they approach retirement. Ovčarik's core message is that time in the market and financial discipline are the most powerful tools available to ordinary savers, regardless of income level.

Dennik N
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Economy

Slovak Developer Warns of Housing Crisis: 'Anyone Without a Home at 65 Will Be in Trouble'

Slovakia is manufacturing its own housing shortage through slow permitting processes and overly restrictive zoning rules, according to prominent Slovak developer Marián Dubec. In an interview, Dubec warned that the country's housing deficit is not the result of external forces but of systemic failures in urban planning and bureaucracy. He argued that local zoning plans need to be liberalized and building permit procedures significantly accelerated to allow enough new housing to be built. Dubec issued a stark personal finance warning alongside his structural critique, saying that anyone who reaches the age of 65 without owning their own home will face serious financial hardship — a concern increasingly relevant in Slovakia, where property prices in cities such as Bratislava have risen sharply in recent years while the pace of new construction lags behind demand. Slovakia, like many Central European countries, has seen housing affordability deteriorate significantly, with younger generations particularly struggling to enter the property market.

SME
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Economy

Czech Arms Dealer Strnad Fails to Acquire Slovakia's Top Television Network Markíza

A deal to sell Slovakia's most-watched television channel, Markíza, to Czech arms manufacturer Michal Strnad has fallen through, ending months of speculation about a change of ownership. Strnad, a prominent Czech defense industry businessman, had been in negotiations to purchase Markíza from PPF Group, a major Central European investment company. The collapse of the talks was confirmed by informed sources familiar with the matter, as well as by a business news website covering behind-the-scenes developments in Czech and Slovak business circles. Speculation about a potential ownership change at Markíza had been circulating for more than two months. The failed acquisition marks another setback in Strnad's attempts to expand into media, as Slovak and Czech business observers had been closely watching whether the defense industry figure would gain a foothold in one of the region's most influential television markets.

Dennik N
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