Archive of articles - August 2007, page 3

Suburbs prove there's life outside Bratislava

THERE'S more to the Bratislava Region than just Bratislava.It's hard enough to explain that to foreign visitors, to encourage them to spend more time in the surrounding areas. But it's even harder to persuade Bratislava residents.

Highway toll tender stalls

THE NATIONAL Highway Company has already put the brakes on the largest tender announced so far during the administration of Prime Minister Robert Fico. The tender to build and operate Slovakia's first electronic highway toll system was cancelled just about a month after it was announced.

Social insurance act bound for parliament

THE SLOVAK government is getting closer to what Prime Minister Robert Fico calls a social insurance system involving more solidarity, and what the opposition sees as a fatal blow to the social security reforms started by the previous government of Mikuláš Dzurinda.

Challenges and surprises propel new theatre seasons

THE UPCOMING season at Slovakia's theatres reflects an era of new leadership, ambitious premieres, and burgeoning artistic diversity.This is especially the case at the Slovak National Theatre (SND), which opens its new season on September 4. In the past year, the SND has reinvigorated its management with new directors for both its ballet and opera ensembles.

Slovakia gets road map for EU funds

THE EUROPEAN Commission has approved a road map that will guide Slovakia to drawing €11.36 billion in European Union funds over the next seven years.The European Commission passed the National Strategic Reference Framework, a major document that each European Union member state needs in order to use EU funds from 2007 to 2013, on August 17.

Book VAT cut expected to boost sales

The bitter fruits of being in opposition

WHAT seemed to be a "worst-case" political scenario with an element of intrigue back in June 2006 has been a reality in Slovakia for more than a year. And about 40 percent of the population seems to be absolutely fine with a government made up of Smer and two parties that pushed the country to the verge of international isolation between 1994 and 1998.

Around Slovakia

Sculpture biennial is an emotional journey

THE BIENNIAL of Small-Scale Sculptures, which opened in July for a 10-week run at the Renaissance Burgher House in Pezinok, is the largest exhibit of its kind presented in Slovakia in the last 16 years.

Slovak Telekom nailed over non-accessible booths

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Bratislava

Golden triangle seen as key for innovation success

EUROVALLEY, the ambitious project of the Malacky local government and a major Slovak developer, has the best location an industrial park could ask for.The area known as the golden triangle already provides business-friendly conditions for entrepreneurs in any industry. But now it is set to become a home for the country's first innovation centre.

Employers walk out of insurance talks

Public servants get four-percent raise

Storm rips through Slovakia

Radičová: Mistakes were made

Journalists have recently been speculating about whether Iveta Radičová - the opposition politician, vice-chair of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) party, and former labour, social affairs and family minister - has a realistic chance of becoming the next Slovak president. That's in response to her rising popularity in the polls.

Seven courts will be in session again

Eurofunds: A tool of nationalist policies?

It came with a great fanfare: on August 17, the European Commission's regional policy commissioner, Danuta Hübner, and employment and social affairs commissioner, Vladimír Špidla, announced an agreement between the EC and the Slovak government on a National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF).