Angela Merkel in Bratislava

The German chancellor Angela Merkel is visiting Slovakia on Thursday. At their bilateral meeting, Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini has asked chancellor Merkel for her support of Bratislava's bid to host the European Labour Agency. Slovakia is one of few EU countries without any European agency yet. Merkel said she is opened to the placing of agencies in the new member states. The main reason for Angela Merkel's visit to the Slovak capital, however, is to take part in the meeting of the Prime Ministers of the Visegrad Four countries, the main focus of which is the preparation of the new European budget, the upcoming elections to the European Parliament as well as the overall future of the EU. While in Bratislava, Angela Merkel is also meeting with the Slovak president Andrej Kiska. Last time the German chancellor visited Bratislava was in the autumn of 2014.