(ANSA) - TRIESTE - "I never dared to comment on the domestic political situations in other countries, but I am glad that Slovakia has become a pro-European island in this region", Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico said, a day after its Czech neighbours became the latest central European ex-Communists to elect a populist taking a hard line on the EU. Czech billionaire Andrej Babis's ANO party won the vote that punished traditional parties. Babis said on Saturday his party was pro-European but he is cool to adopting the euro single currency and resists deeper integration in the EU. In power for nine of the past 11 years, Fico has clashed with Brussels himself on many occasions. But he also likes to boast that he increased Slovakia's clout by bringing it into the euro zone in 2009 when its richer Czech neighbors kept their own currency. In recent months, he has embraced the EU more ardently, saying he aims to steer into a "core" Europe, even if neighbours want to stay on the fringes. (ANSA).