National Convention to promote EU among Slovaks

A National Convention on the European Union will be organised in Slovakia in order to promote the EU to the Slovak public, partly with the aim of reversing the predominant public neglect of European Parliament (EP) elections, said Economy Minister Peter Žiga (Smer-SD) at Question Time in Parliament on Thursday on behalf of Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak (a Smer-SD nominee). Turnouts in the European Parliament elections in Slovakia have been the lowest in the EU in all three elections since the country joined the community in 2004. In the most recent elections in 2014, the turnout reached a mere 13.05 percent in Slovakia. The convention should open in Bratislava on February 22, with President Andrej Kiska and top level politicians in attendance. Events should also take place in seven out of the eight Slovak regions, targeting especially the young and addressing local views.