Slovakia - Factors To Watch on June 19

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PARLIAMENT SESSION

Parliament starts its regular monthly session, 0700 GMT. The agenda includes a debate on labour code amendments.

RULING COALITION MEETING

Leaders of the three ruling coalition parties will meet to debate the agenda of June parliamentary session, 0630 GMT.

OPPOSITION LEADERS TO MEET

Leaders of the three main opposition parties will meet to debate the agenda of June parliamentary session, 0700 GMT.

REPO TENDER

The central bank will hold its regular two-week repo tender.

MAY JOBLESS DATA

Labour Office will release May jobless data, 0700 GMT.

POLISH PM SAYS HOPES WILL NOT USE VETO AT SUMMIT

Poland hopes it will not have to use its veto in talks on a new European Union treaty, but will defend demands for reweighting the EU voting system, Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski said on Monday.

[ID:nL18480435] [RTRS-EU-POL-DIP-SK]

CROWN RETREATS FROM 2-WK HIGHS, SEEN STRONG

The Slovak crown ceded some of its early gains against the euro on Monday, retreating from two-week highs, but dealers said the unit was likely to firm again in the short run if global risk aversion keeps subsiding.

[ID:nL18760965] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK]

DEVELOPER ORCO BUYS TWO SLOVAK DEPARTMENT STORES

Developer Orco Property Group has bought two shopping malls in the Slovak capital Bratislava, the company said on Monday.

[ID:nL18651407] [RTRS-MRG-REA-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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SCHENGEN COMMITTEE

A European Union's committee has started inspection of Slovakia's readiness to enter the Schengen area. The preliminary results of the assessment are expected in July.

Sme, page 2

SMER KEEPS HIGH POPULARITY

The ruling party Smer of Prime Minister Robert Fico has retained lead in opinion poll. A Statistics Office survey showed 40.7 percent public support for Smer in June, while opposition SDKU party of ex-Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda finished second with 14.1 percent.

Sme, page 2

MINIMAL WAGE

Slovakia's minimal wage of 217 euro is the fifth lowest in the European Union, Eurostat said. However, only 1.7 percent of employees are earning the minimal wage, it added.

Sme, page 6

LABOUR CODE

The Parliament will debate a new labour code draft during its June session, which starts on Tuesday. Trade unions worry deputies could alter the government draft of the code. Prime Minister Robert Fico said he will not accept too significant changes.

Pravda, page 2

BRATISLAVA COSTS

The Slovak capital Bratislava is the 31st most expensive city in the world, alongside Spain's Barcelona, a survey conducted by Mercer Human Resource Consulting showed.

Pravda, page 3

For news on upcoming events in the United States and other Group of Seven countries, see . 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

For real-time index quotes, double click in brackets:

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($1=25.70 Slovak Crown)