Archive of articles - January 2008, page 9
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New laws leave almost no sector untouched
JANUARY 1 brought some new laws to Slovakia. There are new rules for setting the minimum wage. The capitalisation pillar of the pension saving system is open. New tax laws mean Slovaks pay less for books and more for cigarettes. New investment incentive laws will change the way foreign investors are compensated for bringing their companies to Slovakia.
How iron is the new eastern curtain?
SEČOVCE: Above the village of Petrovce, Slovakia and Ukraine are separated only by a narrow, treeless avenue in a thick and silent forest. From here to the ridges of the Poloniny mountains in the north, this “green border” crosses 60 kilometres of some of the roughest terrain on Europe’s new eastern frontier.
Chasing the Turuls away
JÁN Slota has a grand plan. The Slovak National Party (SNS) boss wants to plant massive 12-metre Lorraine crosses (so-called double crosses like the one on the country’s flag) in different parts of Slovakia – most importantly in southern Slovakia, so that the Hungarian minority never forgets, not even for a moment, where it actually lives.
Slovaks can’t afford healthy food
SLOVAKS have been eating less fresh fruit and vegetables over last 10 years, while their neighbours in the Czech Republic have been eating more. It’s the same situation with milk and dairy products, the Pravda daily wrote.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
Analysts say there is no reason to worry yet
IN SPITE of Slovakia’s recent success in international and economic affairs, political scientists and observers say there is reason to worry about Slovakia’s development over the coming year.
Quote of the Week:
“What are we ashamed of? If 1,200 years ago we were part of a structure that was comparable to anything else in the world, and in other states there was nothing at that time, maybe only some animals wandering around, then why not look back at that with pride?”
Bland speech gives way to bold talk on media
ALTHOUGH the New Year’s address of President Ivan Gašparovič was not exceptional in any way – according to observers of the Slovak political scene – Gašparovič found another way to make a bit of a stir at the beginning of the new year.
Hungary: The Central-European Conference
THE SEVENTH annual Central-European Conference (CEC), organised by the Rajk László College for Advanced Studies, will be held from March 6 to 10.
Major firms face hefty fines
THE COUNTRY’S antitrust authority wrapped up 2007 by slapping hefty fines on two major Slovak companies for what the Antitrust Office (PMÚ) called an abuse of their dominant position on the market and harming the competition.
University of Economics looks ahead
SLOVAKIA’S tradition of higher education in business and economics is not that old. But the field doesn’t need a long history to ensure a bright future, according to the rector of the University of Economics in Bratislava.
Sklabiná
THE TYPICAL thatch roof on the second house from the right in the village of Sklabiná is a sure sign that this village lies close to the Slovak-Hungarian border. The beam water well between the third and the fourth house on the right also indicates that we are in a southern-Slovak village.
After a good year, economists predict slower growth in 2008
ECONOMISTS are warning that Slovakia can’t keep up the same rate of economic vigour it showed in 2007. But thanks to the strong growth it has had so far, the country will still be a good prospect for investments in 2008.
A tragic end to a hike
AN AVALANCHE killed two ski alpinists on December 14 in the Western Tatras when they were hiking from Žiarska Chata cottage to the Smutné Sedlo saddleback.
Slovak national pride slipped last year
CITIZENS of Slovakia are less proud of their country than they were a year before, according to a public opinion poll from the Institute for Public Affairs (IVO) and the Focus agency, conducted in late 2007.
State coffers in better shape
SLOVAKIA’s state coffers are in their best condition since 2000. Last year the state budget deficit dropped to Sk23.53 billion (Ř706,000), Sk15 billion lower than originally planned.
Former minister still working for justice
SHORTLY after he started a successful career as a lawyer, Daniel Lipšic was offered the position of justice minister and didn’t hesitate to accept it. His experience in the Cabinet taught him that even though we don’t live in an ideal world and there will always be situations where justice doesn’t prevail, a person can make changes that give justice the room to grow.
Netherlands: UN International Law Fellowship
THE UNITED Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is now accepting applications for the July-August 2008 Session of the United Nations International Law Fellowship Programme.
Six bidders in the race for highway tender
SIX bidders have submitted their offers in a tender to build and operate five sections of the D1 highway between Žilina and Prešov, as part of Slovakia’s first package of public-private partnerhip projects, the SITA newswire reported.
Fico’s blacklisting of Sme was immature
Robert Fico’s refusal to communicate with the Sme daily is another reminder of how his government is increasingly resembling its authoritarian predecessor from 1994 to 1998.
- Music in the veins
- American Dream found in Slovakia?
- Where can vegetarians and gluten-free diners eat out in Bratislava?
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Slovak physicist: I do not employ doctoral students; I make them go abroad. I expect them to push us forward
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Where can vegetarians and gluten-free diners eat out in Bratislava?
- Fico turns to X to shape his global image
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Slovak physicist: I do not employ doctoral students; I make them go abroad. I expect them to push us forward
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Slovak central bank chief found guilty of bribery
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- Fico turns to X to shape his global image
- Where can vegetarians and gluten-free diners eat out in Bratislava?
- News digest: Fico tells Berlin Slovakia will not take lessons on Russia
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- Fico turns to X to shape his global image
- News digest: Renaissance lady vanishes, ministry brushes off ‘stupid questions’
- Man appeals for help finding strangers who saved his life
- Employers outline €6.5 billion in spending cuts, but Fico fires back
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovak central bank chief found guilty of bribery
- Music in the veins
- Banská Štiavnica becomes a centre of contemporary photography again Photo
- A bus now runs through it: Slovakia and Poland’s Tatras finally connect More articles ›
