Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Feb 20

BRATISLAVA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press
reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial
markets on Friday.

JANAUARY JOBLESS

The National Labour Office will publish January unemployment
data, 1000 GMT.

FICO WITH UNIONS ON CRISIS

Prime Minister Robert Fico will sign a memorandum with the
Confederation of Trade Unions on measures against impacts of the
crisis, 0900 GMT.

SLOVAK SPP MOVES AHEAD ON ALTERNATIVE GAS SUPPLY

Slovak gas firm SPP said on Thursday it had signed
preliminary deals on gas supplies for Slovakia in case flows
from Russia stop as they did during the Russia-Ukraine dispute
last month.

[ID:nLJ832649] [RTRS-NGS-REGS-ELG-SK-LEN]

CENTRAL EUROPE LEADERS MEET BEFORE EU SUMMIT

Leaders of European Union countries from central and eastern
Europe will meet on March 1 to find common ground ahead of the
bloc's emergency summit on the same day, diplomats said on
Thursday.

[ID:nLJ547429] [RTRS-EUROPE-DIP-POL-SK-LEN]

PRESS DIGEST

------------

EU FUNDS FOR SLOVAK ROADS

The European Commission, the European Union's executive
body, has approved a grant of 263.5 million euros to co-finance
Slovak road and highway construction.

Sme, page 8

HIGHWAY COSTS

The total cost of the planned highway projects, to be
financed via public-private partnership scheme, should be
between around 7.5-8.0 billion euro. The transport ministry and
finance ministry both declined to comment on the estimate.

Pravda, page 6

VW'S NEW MODEL

Germany's car maker Volkswagen is deciding which of its
assembly plants will start production of a new small family car,
the unions at Volkswagen's Slovak plant said.
Pravda, page 10

U.S. STEEL CUTS PRODUCTION IN SLOVAKIA

United States Steel Corp (X.N) has cut production at its
Slovak factory by 50 percent, the factory's unions said. The
unions said the company expected production to rise again in the
second half of the year after its customers use all of the
current inventories.

Prada, page 46

INVESTMENT FUNDS

Withdrawals from Slovak investment funds exceeded new
deposits by 121.8 million euros in the first six-weeks of the
year as clients preferred traditional banks deposits.

Sme, page 1

SKYEUROPE FLEET

The Slovak-based low-cost airline SkyEurope SKYV.VI said
it would add seven Boeing 737 airplanes to its fleet by
end-April. The planes are 16-year old on average.

Sme, page 8

Reuters has not verified the media reports and does not
vouch for their accuracy.

For news on upcoming events in the United States and other
Group of Seven countries, see G7TODAY. For a diary of
forthcoming Slovak events, double click [SK/DIARY], and a
calendar of east European economic indicators, see [CONV/DIARY].

News editor of the day: Peter Laca on +421 2 5341 8402; fax:
+421 2 5341 8403

E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk

Reuters Messaging: peter.laca.reuters.com@reuters.net

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