Archive of articles - November 2004, page 3

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Town budgets stall

THE STATE handed the fiscal reins to regional governments by allowing municipalities to take a direct proportion of individual income taxes to fund their budgets. The move was part of a fiscal decentralisation plan designed to empower regional governments and cut state subsidies.But in a recent cabinet session, when the cabinet failed to define how income taxes would be distributed to municipalities, the state left regional governments in charge of a horseless carriage.On November 24, after the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) hinted that it would pull its support, the Finance Ministry withdrew a draft directive that would have defined the much-anticipated income tax distribution mechanism.

Slovak film boom

THE SIXTH year of the International Film Festival Bratislava will screen 12 Slovak movies, a surprisingly large number for the local film industry, which has long been dormant.“The number of Slovak movies is exceptional,” festival programme director Peter Nágel said. “If it continues, we can stop fearing for the future of Slovak cinema.”The local selection is led by the newest work of acclaimed documentary director Pavol Barabáš.

Events Countrywide

BRATISLAVAWESTERN SLOVAKIAEASTERN SLOVAKIA

KDH readies for a crusade

THOSE who thought EU integration would bring an end to nationalism were mistaken. A united Europe has done nothing to turn nationalism into a relic of nineteenth century nation building and anti-colonial struggles post-World War II.In fact, the decreasing population in old European countries and the post-communist block combined with an influx of immigrants has apparently breathed new life into political parties with nationalist tendencies.The cold hard truth is that nationalism is here to stay, and there is no doubt that it owes its survival to its great powers of transformation.

Miklos: 15 percent flat tax "optimal"

easyJet lands in Slovakia

Czech company sells majority stake in JOJ

Gross foreign debt at $19 billion

Budget deficit at 3.8 percent in 2004

Enel deal postponed

Cabinet forms Tatra committee

US Truthheim in theater

Czechs offer assistance to wind-ravaged Slovakia

Slovakia backs EC sugar reform

Crime on the rise

Austrian company chooses Vráble

Take your holidays in the Tatras

Kukan asks EU for aid for Tatras catastrophe