Archive of articles - March 2004, page 9

Coalition tries EP election amendment again

AFTER the recent failure of the Slovak parliament to approve a constitutional amendment that would regulate the first elections to the European Parliament (EP), Justice Minister Daniel Lipšic is preparing two new legislative proposals to secure the legality of the June 13 vote.On March 3 only 81 of the required 90 MPs supported the constitutional amendment, also proposed by Lipšic, throwing the elections for the 14 future Slovak members of the EP into legal uncertainty.

Best designs move to Bratislava

Complaint against presidential ads

Reader feedback: Report for whom?

Topvar Brewery to sell 700,000 hectolitres of beer

Welcome to outer space

Prestige restaurantWhere: Dobrovičova 8, BratislavaOpen: Monday to Friday, 9:00-23:00, food served until 18:00Reservations: YesEnglish menu: NoTel: 0903/445-787Rating: 5.5 out of 10

Events Countrywide

BRATISLAVAWESTERN SLOVAKIAEASTERN SLOVAKIAPrepared by Kristína Havasová

Slovak Grammys 2003 distributed

Nimcová's photo show in Vienna

Bednárik cooks opera delicacy

ACCLAIMED Slovak stage director Jozef Bednárik, famous for his extravagant tastes, just recently troubled the calm, classical waters of the Slovak National Theatre with his modern, sporty, and Coca-Cola-sipping Cinderella set to Gioacchino Rossini's music. Now he is bringing the loud colours and culinary specialities of the Tyrol Alps into Gaetano Donizetti's La Fille du Regiment (The Daughter of the Regiment) opera, which will premiere on March 19 and 20.

ABN AMRO Bank opens office in Bratislava

The cross or the hockey stick?

PARLIAMENT'S failure to approve constitutional amendments related to elections to the European Parliament (EP) is not a good sign, but true and long-lasting embarrassment may only come after the elections are over and the first Slovak MEPs take their seats.Although constitutional changes put forward by the cabinet are in no way crucial for Slovakia's future in the European Union, or for the legitimacy of the voting scheduled for this spring, the opposition's refusal to back the administration's legislation is troubling for two reasons.Firstly, it shows that Slovakia will be entering the EU with a government so weak it cannot push through fundamental measures related to the union, that it can be caught by surprise by developments in parliament and is consequently dependant more on improvisation than planning.

Quote of the Week

PM dismisses delaying nuclear shutdown

Forum planned to handle industrial policies

EuroTel increases customer base

It is now time to pay the piper

EUPHORIA over winning the €700 million Kia Motors investment has quickly slipped into slight anxiety over the money that Slovakia must pour into the Korean carmaker's coffers and the construction of a new highway section linking the Žilina site in northern Slovakia, with the main transportation veins of the country.Hyundai's Kia Motors, which chose Slovakia over Poland on March 2, became the third global automotive firm, following Germany's Volkswagen and France's PSA Peugeot-Citroen, to pick Slovakia.

Klimčák's Slovakia in Russia

Companies would like to keep leasing attractive

THOUGH the leasing business in 2003 has not shown progress as dynamic as it did over previous years, it remains a favoured business activity and companies in the industry are searching for new market opportunities in upcoming years.The volume of leased movable assets grew last year by Sk3.2 billion (€78.57 million), an 8 percent increase. The value of assets bought through leasing in 2003 reached Sk43.2 billion (€1 billion).