AGP Executive Report

India–France Tech Push: PM Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the “Bharat Innovates 2026” conclave in Nice, aiming to connect 120+ Indian deep-tech startups with global investors and partners, with innovation, AI and climate cooperation front and center. Trade & Payments: The two sides also unveiled 13 outcomes, including a five-year plan to double bilateral trade to USD 32bn and steps to expand India’s UPI in France (including Paris and Nice airports). Slovakia Focus: Modi then departed for a historic first-ever Indian PM visit to Slovakia (June 14–16), with talks expected to cover trade, investment and auto/rail manufacturing links. EU Sanctions Risk: A new EU Russia sanctions package could include entities based in India, potentially complicating ratification of an EU–India trade deal. Energy & Industry at Home: Slovak PM Robert Fico said reopening aluminium production in Žiar nad Hronom is nearing completion, with “great news” expected soon. Kenya–Slovakia Market Angle: Kenya hosted a business forum with Slovakia to diversify exports and attract investment, including emerging tech and renewable energy cooperation.

EU-India Trade Risk: The EU’s new Russia sanctions package reportedly includes entities based in India, raising uncertainty over ratification of the EU–India trade deal finalized in January; the proposal targets 50 companies and needs unanimous approval from all 27 member states. India-France Tech Push: PM Narendra Modi arrives in Nice for talks with President Emmanuel Macron and the inauguration of “Bharat Innovates 2026,” a deep-tech showcase linking 120 Indian innovators, 15 higher-education institutions and 500+ investors across sectors like semiconductors, space, biotech, energy and advanced manufacturing. India-US at G7: White House officials confirm Modi and US President Donald Trump will meet on G7 sidelines in Evian, with trade, AI, supply-chain resilience and global security on the agenda. Slovakia State Visit Momentum: Modi’s June 14–16 state visit to Slovakia—his first since 1993—aims to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, auto manufacturing and rail, while the Indian diaspora in Bratislava prepares to host the delegation, including a special dinner at an Indian-origin restaurant. Local Politics Watch: SaS launches an “Anti-theft Radar” project to flag alleged misuse of public funds and EU money, promising weekly updates.

EU-India Trade Under Pressure: The EU’s new 21st Russia sanctions package is set to include entities based in India, potentially complicating ratification of the “mother of all deals” trade agreement finalized in January; the proposal targets 50 companies and needs unanimous approval from all 27 member states, with a July 15 target. G7 Diplomacy With Slovakia in the Mix: Indian PM Narendra Modi has begun a France-and-Slovakia trip ahead of the G7 in Evian, with a key stop in Slovakia (June 14-15) for talks with President Peter Pellegrini and PM Robert Fico plus business meetings. Modi-Trump Talks Loom: The White House confirmed Modi will meet US President Donald Trump on G7 sidelines (June 17), likely touching trade talks, AI and supply-chain resilience, amid heightened West Asia shipping risks. Energy Security Focus: Trump is also expected to discuss demining the Strait of Hormuz with G7 allies, a topic that matters for India’s energy imports. Local Governance Watch: Slovakia’s SaS opposition launched an “Anti-theft Radar” to spotlight alleged misuse of EU and public funds, promising fresh cases every Saturday.

EU-India Trade Under Pressure: The EU’s new Russia sanctions package could complicate ratification of the EU–India trade deal, with a proposal targeting 50 companies and including undisclosed entities based in India, requiring unanimous approval by all 27 states. Carbon Border Tax Tightened: EU ministers agreed to make it harder to suspend the carbon emissions fee on imports, aiming to boost certainty for low-carbon investment; Slovakia was among the countries that opposed the plan. Slovakia in the EU Budget Talks: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola met Slovak House Chair Richard Rasi in Bratislava, focusing on the EU’s future budget and competitiveness, with automotive highlighted as key to Slovakia’s economy. Modi’s Slovakia-France Stop Signals Business Push: India’s PM Narendra Modi departed for France and Slovakia, set to attend the G7 and inaugurate “Bharat Innovates,” with the Slovakia visit framed as a historic first for an Indian PM since 1993. Retail Expansion in the Region: Kaufland is launching an online marketplace in Spain, while HalfPrice opened its first Estonian store—both moves underline continued growth in European e-commerce and off-price retail. Hiring Pulse: A survey points to the strongest Q3 hiring outlook in financial services in Taiwan, reflecting demand for IT talent amid global uncertainty.

EU Sanctions & Trade: The EU’s 21st Russia sanctions package now includes entities based in India, raising fresh hurdles for ratifying the EU–India trade deal agreed in January, with unanimous approval needed by all 27 states. EU Migration Rules: The EU Migration and Asylum Pact took effect, tightening border controls and enabling “return hubs,” while countries debate how to balance humanitarian duties with capacity limits. Pay Transparency in Slovakia: Slovakia has transposed the EU Pay Transparency Directive via its Equal Pay Act, with new employer obligations kicking in and first reporting due in 2027 for firms with 150+ staff. Carbon Border Levy: EU ministers backed tighter rules on when the bloc can suspend the carbon emissions fee on imports, aiming to reduce uncertainty for low-carbon investment. Slovak Tech Funding: Košice-based Nordics rebranded as Definic and raised €2.5m to scale its vendor intelligence platform. Retail Expansion: Kaufland is launching an online marketplace in Spain, adding millions of third-party products with fast delivery. Labour Market Snapshot: Eurostat shows Slovakia among EU states with the biggest employment-rate gains in Q1 2026. Business Diplomacy: A new Canadian Chamber of Commerce has been set up in Slovakia to boost trade missions and investment links.

Slovak-India Business Push: India’s PM Narendra Modi will visit Slovakia on June 14–16, the first such trip since 1993, with talks planned with PM Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini plus meetings with Slovak business leaders on transport, renewables, emerging tech and defence production. EU Defence Funding Clash: Poland and Slovakia back resistance to Germany’s proposal to redirect unblocked €6.6bn from the European Peace Fund to Ukraine, arguing rules can’t change midstream and pushing for compensation and more support for their own armies. Digital Public Services Under Fire: The government removed the National Security Authority’s confidential assessment of the Slovensko.sk portal from the agenda after opposition said the ministry has warned for months without clear conclusions; Fico called for urgent action. Trade & Investment Links: A new Canadian Chamber of Commerce has been set up in Slovakia to support Canadian firms and Slovak expansion into Canada via networking and trade missions. Logistics Deal: GXO signed a multi-year agreement with L’Oréal to expand outsourced logistics across Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary, including a new greenfield facility near Brno. Aviation Expansion: Smartwings will launch a Prague–Lisbon direct route from Oct 23 and add more flights to Porto, Bilbao, Toulouse and year-round Nice service. EU Migration Rules: The EU’s new migration pact introduces a “solidarity pool” with targets or cash support, but Hungary and Slovakia pledged neither financial help nor migrant intake.

Modi’s Slovakia stop: India’s PM Narendra Modi will visit Slovakia on June 14–16, the first such trip by an Indian PM since 1993, with meetings with PM Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini plus talks with Slovak business leaders on transport, renewables, emerging tech and defence. Presov hospital scrutiny: Opposition Progressive Slovakia and KDH are convening parliamentary committees over unclear aspects of the Presov military hospital build, including classified operations, procurement issues, delays, cost overruns and supervision concerns. EU defence funding row: Poland and Slovakia back resistance to Germany’s push to redirect €6.6bn from the European Peace Fund to Ukraine, arguing Brussels is changing rules mid-game while Warsaw wants money for its own army. Slovakia trade snapshot: Slovakia posted a €76m foreign-trade surplus in April 2026, with exports up 4.5% year-on-year and imports up 2.6%. Energy market protection: EU negotiators agreed a financial safety net to stabilise new carbon costs for heating and transport from 2028, aiming to shield households from price spikes. Business pressure for growth: Employers’ union RUZ warns the state must present growth support measures without delay, or wage growth will stall, urging faster consolidation and tax/red-tape reforms.

Slovakia Trade & Industry: Slovakia posted a €76m foreign trade surplus in April 2026 as exports rose to €9.5bn (+4.5% y/y) and imports to €9.4bn (+2.6% y/y), though analysts warn Middle East tensions and energy volatility could squeeze future surpluses. Growth Push from Employers: The National Union of Employers (RUZ) says the government must present pro-growth measures fast or salary growth will stall, calling for a flat tax, VAT simplification, fewer taxes/levies, and less red tape. Agriculture Under Pressure: Prime Minister Robert Fico warned of drought and a dairy crisis, urging faster EU reserve use for irrigation and opposing caps on direct payments. Foreign Trade & Investment Links: Slovakia and Canada discussed nuclear energy, defence and innovation cooperation, including a possible Canadian business mission and a chamber of commerce. Kenya Deal-Making: A record Slovak business delegation (35 firms) pitched infrastructure and development projects in Nairobi, targeting energy, digitisation, health, IT, agriculture and water management. EU Defence Procurement: EU lawmakers reached a provisional deal on the Defence Readiness Omnibus to speed permits and procurement and simplify cross-border defence cooperation. Air & Tourism: Wizz Air launched Bratislava–Mykonos flights, adding another 2026 destination. Bratislava Airbnb Reality Check: Despite strong demand, Airbnb profitability in Bratislava lags due to fees, taxes and costs, with many hosts squeezed by pricing pressure.

EU–South Korea Digital Trade: The EU and South Korea signed a Digital Trade Agreement in Brussels, aiming to deepen cooperation on security, energy, research and innovation. EU Defence Procurement: EU Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional deal on the Defence Readiness Omnibus to cut delays, speed up permits and simplify cross-border defence procurement. Slovakia–India Defence Links: Slovakia’s ambassador Robert Maxian urged deeper defence-industry cooperation and pointed to Make in India, inviting Indian firms to Slovakia’s IDEB exhibition. Slovakia–Kenya Investment Push: Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár backed new business opportunities for Slovak investors at a Nairobi forum, with trade still small but exports including machinery and fertiliser. Slovakia Industrial Slowdown: Industrial production fell 3.2% year-on-year in April, hit by weaker motor vehicles and basic metals. Hydrogen Funding Gap: Only about €300m of €1.2bn from the EU hydrogen bank’s second auction is turning into projects, prompting calls for funding rule changes. WeRide Autonomous Rollout: WeRide outlined a Level 4 autonomous vehicle plan for Slovakia with government support, starting with vehicles arriving in June and testing in Bratislava. Bratislava Airport Route Expansion: Wizz Air launched direct flights to Mykonos from Bratislava, adding another summer destination. LNG Contract for Ukraine: Naftogaz booked long-term LNG terminal capacity in Klaipeda for 2033–2044, underscoring Europe’s shifting gas supply routes. Pay Transparency Deadline Misses: Only three EU countries met the June 7 deadline for national pay transparency rules, leaving employers facing uneven compliance across the bloc.

India–Slovakia Business Push: Slovak PM Robert Fico met WeRide to back Level 4 robotaxi rollout in Slovakia, with the first vehicle batch due this month, signaling a push for autonomous mobility rules-ready for commercialization. Defense & Trade Links: Slovak Ambassador Robert Maxian says defense cooperation is evolving after India’s indigenisation—Slovakia is now also buying defense tech from India—while automotive trade remains a key pillar. EU Funds Oversight: Slovakia’s Supreme Audit Office warns EU funding has been weakened by bureaucracy, late calls and weak fraud prevention, urging earlier launches and more local autonomy. Parliament Watch: MPs again failed to reach quorum for a no-confidence debate over Education Minister Tomáš Drucker, while healthcare reform and state-finance motions move forward. EU Pay Transparency: The EU Pay Transparency Directive deadline has passed, but transposition is uneven across member states, creating a patchwork for employers. Energy Transition Industry: Vaillant’s Senica heat-pump mega-factory highlights scaling capacity for Europe’s heat-pump targets. World Cup 2026 Buzz: The tournament’s expanded 48-team format keeps betting and fan attention high, with Slovakia-linked sports interest also rising.

India–Slovakia Diplomacy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit France and Slovakia from June 13–19, with talks in Nice with Emmanuel Macron and a state visit to Slovakia for meetings with Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini—his first trip to Slovakia since 1993, with cooperation expected across trade, investment, auto and rail manufacturing. EU Finance & Industry: Cyprus’ finance minister will chair the Ecofin meeting in Luxembourg, with ministers set to discuss euro-area fiscal and macro developments, IMF assessments, and EU tech autonomy. Energy Transition in Slovakia: Vaillant’s Senica mega-factory is now fully operational, targeting up to 500,000 electric heat pumps per year—an industrial push that could support Europe’s heat decarbonisation goals. Corporate & Consumer Tech: Slovak Telekom plans to discontinue its Digi TV brand by merging Digi Slovakia into the parent from September 1. EU Rules for Transport: The European Commission has opened infringement proceedings against Belgium, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden over incorrect transposition of hired goods vehicle rules, with two months to respond. Business & Cyber: ESET’s SMB Cyber Readiness Index finds firms worry about “high-tech” threats like AI malware, but struggle more with everyday scams and basic security gaps. Automotive Watch: Audi unveiled the third-generation 2027 Q7 and SQ7, built in Bratislava, with major upgrades to design, interior tech and lighting.

Slovak Foreign Policy & Business Links: Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár is in Kenya and Tanzania on a major aid-and-investment mission, handing over humanitarian support to the Kenya Red Cross and bringing a large Slovak business delegation to deepen trade ties. Agriculture Funding: Slovakia’s Agriculture Ministry has launched eight calls worth €221.23m under its agricultural strategic plan, including support for farmers, food producers and foresters (notably for greenhouse-gas and ammonia cuts). Pay Transparency Deadline: The EU Pay Transparency Directive transposition deadline has passed, leaving many employers and HR teams scrambling over what compliance should look like where national rules are still delayed. Real Estate Finance: PPF Real Estate Holding secured a €178m five-year UBS refinancing for its Dutch office and hospitality portfolio, extending debt maturity and backing continued asset management. Construction Watch: Slovakia’s construction output growth cooled in April to +13.2% year-on-year, still strong but down from March’s surge. Transport Disruption: Bratislava–Vienna rail services were disrupted after Slovakia’s regulator temporarily barred Austrian-operated Siemens Desiro ML trains over missing paperwork, with buses used until normal operations resumed. EU Corporate Fleet Fight: Nine EU governments, including Slovakia, are challenging Brussels’ plan to impose electric-vehicle quotas on large company fleets, arguing it could hurt competitiveness amid uneven charging readiness.

EU Enlargement Watch: EU enlargement chief Marta Kos says Poland’s objections to Ukraine’s next EU “enlargement cluster” stage have been “solved,” with all 27 states set to open the first cluster on June 15 and the rest expected by mid-July. Corporate Green Pushback: Nine EU governments, including Slovakia, are challenging a Commission plan to force large company car and van fleets onto electric power via 2030 quotas, arguing it could hurt competitiveness amid uneven charging and grid readiness. Slovak Transport Disruption: Slovakia’s transport regulator temporarily barred Austrian-operated Siemens Desiro ML trains from entering after missing paperwork, causing Bratislava–Vienna weekend disruptions; services are now back to normal. Construction Economy: Slovakia’s construction output growth cooled in April to +13.2% year-on-year (from +29.9% in March), with domestic new builds driving most of the increase. UAE–Slovakia Trade: Bratislava hosted the second UAE–Slovakia Joint Economic Committee, focusing on energy/green tech, digitalisation, agriculture, infrastructure and healthcare, with non-oil trade at $812.7m in 2025. Retail Safety: An EU check of 88 remote-controlled toys found 60% failed interference rules, triggering bans and warnings across 13 countries, including Slovakia.

UAE–Slovakia Economic Push: The UAE and Slovakia used their second Joint Economic Committee meeting in Bratislava to line up cooperation in energy and green tech, digitalisation and cybersecurity, agriculture, infrastructure and healthcare, with non-oil trade hitting $812.7m in 2025. EU Pay Transparency Deadline Misses: A new ETUC tracker says most EU states are set to miss the 7 June 2026 deadline for pay transparency rules, with only Slovakia, Italy and Lithuania reported as having completed transposition. Slovakia’s Fiscal Credibility: Slovakia scored best among EU countries in the European Commission’s latest fiscal-rules compliance assessment, according to the Finance Ministry, which points to controlled spending. Transport Connectivity: Czech and Slovak ministers are assessing whether to restart regular Prague–Bratislava flights after more than seven years, depending on demand and airline economics. Retail Pressure in Europe: Eurostat data show euro area retail trade volume fell 0.4% in April and the EU 0.5%, with fuel and non-food weakness offset by food growth. Volvo Jobs in Focus: Flanders offered up to €119m to help secure Volvo’s Ghent plant, tied to modernization and innovation investments, as the company prepares a new Kosice site.

Slovakia–UAE Trade Push: The UAE and Slovakia met in Bratislava for their 2nd Joint Economic Committee, with talks spanning energy and green tech, digitalisation and cybersecurity, agriculture, infrastructure and healthcare, as non-oil trade hit $812.7m in 2025. EU Economic Roadmap: The European Commission rolled out the 2026 European Semester Spring Package, aiming to boost competitiveness and resilience while keeping fiscal sustainability on track. Fiscal Scorecard: Slovakia says it ranked best among EU states in the Commission’s latest fiscal-rules compliance assessment, pointing to controlled spending. Pay Transparency Deadline Pressure: A new EU-wide check shows many countries are missing the 7 June pay transparency deadline, with Slovakia among those that have already acted. Transport Connectivity: Czech and Slovak transport ministers discussed bringing back regular Prague–Bratislava flights after a seven-year gap. Retail Demand Watch: Eurostat data shows euro area retail trade volume fell 0.4% in April (EU: -0.5%), with fuel sales a key drag. Ukraine Costs Row: Slovak PM Fico wants reimbursement of military equipment costs for Ukraine via EU mechanisms, warning of funding shortfalls.

Slovak Fiscal Spotlight: The European Commission’s latest assessment puts Slovakia at the top among EU states for compliance with fiscal rules, with the Finance Ministry pointing to tighter control of government spending. Ukraine Cost Reimbursement: Prime Minister Robert Fico says Slovakia will push the European Commission for reimbursement of military equipment costs for Ukraine via the European Peace Facility, warning of a major funding shortfall. EU Pay Transparency Deadline Pressure: A new EU-wide look at pay transparency shows many countries are missing the June 7 deadline; Slovakia is cited as having already moved, while others lag or plan delayed implementation. Retail Demand Softening: Eurostat reports euro area retail trade volume fell 0.4% in April and EU volume dropped 0.5%, with declines driven mainly by weaker fuel and non-food sales. Defence Procurement Update: Patria has completed delivery of 10 Patria AMV XP 8×8 armoured ambulances to Slovakia under a government-to-government defence contract. Diplomatic & Trade Links: President Peter Pellegrini opened a new Slovak honorary consulate in Bari, aiming to boost support for Slovaks in southern Italy and deepen business and university cooperation.