Committees of the European Parliament continued hearings involving Slovak government representatives on the occasion of the start of the Slovak presidency of the EU Council. Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriela Matečná presented her goal to bolster the standing of agricultural workers in the food supply chain. Moreover, she aims to reform some aspects of the agricultural policy and pay more attention to forest management. Matečná also named what she considered to be the most delicate items on the agenda; the situation on the commodities market, linked with the dairy and pork crisis, and the finalising of trade agreements with the United States and Latin American countries as well as with third countries in general.
Slovak Education, Science, Research and Sport Minister Peter Plavčan presented the priorities of his ministry. Plavčan highlighted support for young talents and an emphasis on sports diplomacy as his priorities. "We must seek tools to help recognise talent in every single individual - especially in children and teenagers so that they can develop their gift," said Plavčan.
During his Wednesday hearing, the Slovak Culture Minister Marek Madarič pointed that the Audiovisual Media Services Directive is a "complicated directive with a lot of questions". He recalled that the audiovisual environment has changed completely thanks to the digital revolution. Madarič expressed Slovakia's commitment to advance the negotiation process on the issues of the directive as far as possible.
