Archive of articles - April 2008, page 4
If you desire to read an old article, use the search bar or select the publication date.
Teachers still face low pay despite wage growth
On April 24, the Pravda daily reports that the salary of a Slovak teacher should be raised by nearly Sk2,000 as of next year. Teachers will thus earn Sk23,000 on average. The government began discussing teachers’ salaries with trade union this week. SITA
Number of visitors to Slovak spas up nine percent in 2007
276,200 people visited Slovak spas last year, an increase of 9 percent over 2006, the SITA newswire wrote. Of these, foreign visitors made up just over 35 percent. Visitors spent 2.453 million nights in Slovak spas with each guest spending an average of 8.9 nights. The figures come from a report entitled “Capacity and Performance of Spas in 2005-2007”, which was released by the Economy Ministry on April 24. Last year, there were 94 spa accommodation facilities in Slovakia, with a total of more than 11,900 beds. They had a 62.8 percent occupancy rate. SITA
Hauliers oppose planned Friday evening truck ban
The CESMAD Slovakia road haulage association says it is not planning strikes in protest at the proposed ban on driving trucks on Fridays between 16:00 and 20:00. The Interior Ministry plans to introduce the ban in an amendment to the Traffic Code, the SITA newswire wrote. CESMAD Secretary General Pavol Reich said that, instead, on one Friday evening they would try to stay off the roads to demonstrate to ministerial bureaucrats what they want. CESMAD President Peter Halabrin said that they do not want any strikes or similar actions but want to show in practice that the law will cause absolute chaos on the roads for all motorists. According to him, roads will remain blocked because drivers will not have anywhere where to park their trucks.
Analysts forecast future inflation at current levels
Harmonised inflation in Slovakia at the end of both 2008 and 2009 is expected to be at current levels, according to the National Bank of Slovakia's (NBS)regular survey of analysts at nine Slovak banks. The survey predicts average harmonised inflation will be 3.5 percent at the end of this year, the SITA newswire wrote. Projections for 2009 suggest a rate of 3.6 percent.
New EU-member states criticised in EP for visa deals with USA
The issue of US visa policy and the efforts of EU-member countries to individually reach the abolition of visas for their citizens provoked a sharp exchange of views in the European Parliament on April 23, the TASR newswire wrote.
Slovakia to donate €6,200 to UN Human Rights activities this year
Slovakia is to make a voluntary contribution to the activities of the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) amounting to 10,000 Swiss francs (€6,200) this year, according to a proposal approved at the government session on April 23.
Kramplová: I've never heard of GVM
Agriculture Minister Zdenka Kramplová (ĽS-HZDS party) said on April 23 that she didn't know a company called GVM, has never come across it, and "doesn't know why it's being linked to LS-HZDS party."
Fico: I'm not in second pillar, and you shouldn’t be either
Slovak PM Robert Fico said following the government session on April 23 that it appeared the global financial crisis was having a great impact on the appreciation of savings in the second pension pillar, the TASR newswire wrote.
New Press Code is acceptable, say European Socialists
At a meeting of a working group of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in the European Parliament on Wednesday, April 23, led by Austrian Deputy Hannes Swoboda, the group labelled Slovakia's new Press Code as acceptable according to European Union conditions, said a spokesperson for the Slovak European Socialists, Gabriela Keckesová, after the meeting. "European socialists will reconsider the bill in the event that practice shows it causes problems," she stated. PES members also agreed to visit the Hungarian village of Mlynky (Pilisszentkereszt) in the autumn. Hungarian socialist Csaba Sandor Tabajdi promised that Hungarian socialists would push the government there to find a solution to the problem of the municipal ‘Slovak House’ so that it continues to serve local ethnic Slovaks. SITA
38 percent of Slovaks plan to go away for summer break
Two in five Slovaks are planning to spend their summer vacation away from home. The company GfK Slovakia conducted a survey of 1,000 respondents in March, which suggests that the most attractive foreign destinations include Croatia, Italy and Greece, and among Slovak regions chiefly the High Tatras and the regions of Spiš, Liptov and Zemplín, the SITA newswire wrote.
Cabinet approves programme to fight human trafficking
At its regular session on April 23, the Slovak Cabinet approved a programme to tackle human trafficking up to 2010, the SITA newswire wrote. The Interior Ministry has earmarked Sk8 million for the effort this year. It projects similar expenditure for the next two years. The majority of the money is designated for NGOs involved in the National Programme and the Programme for Support and Protection of Human Trafficking Victims. This year, the organisations include Slovak Crisis Centre DOTYK, Prima Civil Association, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Cultural Association of Romas in Slovakia and the Slovak Catholic Charity.
Moves in SMK to summon congress
On April 23, the daily Sme reported that there have been initial moves in the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) to convene an extraordinary congress. However, critics of the party leader, Pál Csáky, do not have sufficient support to recall him since most districts do not want an extraordinary congress. The conflict inside the party arose after the former SMK boss Béla Bugár informed the media about a meeting between SMK representatives and Prime Minister Robert Fico, at which Csáky allegedly requested a subsidy for the Madach publishing house. Csáky denies there was such a meeting. SITA
European Socialists to discuss new Press Code
A working group of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in the European Parliament will debate the new Slovak Press Code in Strasbourg on April 23, MEP Monika Flašíková-Beňová told the SITA newswire.
Ministry withdraws lawsuit against public procurement authority
The Transport Ministry has withdrawn its lawsuit against the Public Procurement Office (ÚVO), in which the ministry contested the UVO's decision concerning excluded participants in the first tender for the construction and operation of D1 highway sections between Martin and Prešov, the SITA newswire wrote.
NBS governor believes inflation is sustainable
According to Ivan Šramko, governor of the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS), Slovakia is fulfilling the Maastricht inflation criteria in a sustainable way, the SITA newswire wrote.
Media: Journalist Award 2007 handed out
The Journalist Award 2007 was recently given out in 13 categories at a gala on the Ship-Theatre under the Deck in Bratislava.
Slovakia to present itself as water source at Expo 2008
Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek told journalists on April 22 that Slovakia would present itself as the “Spring of Europe” at the Expo 2008 in Saragossa, Spain.
Labour Ministry suggests raising subsistence level
The Labour Ministry has proposed raising the monthly subsistence level for adults to Sk5,800 as of January 1, the SITA newswire wrote.
Slovenské Elektrárne will not borrow money to complete Mochovce
Slovakia's dominant power producer Slovenské Elektrárne (SE) will finance the completion of the third and fourth units of the Mochovce nuclear power plant (EMO) from its own resources.
Report shows Internet use in Slovakia average among EU
Slovakia placed thirteenth in the charts of the European Union countries, which evaluated the frequency of Internet usage among EU inhabitants last year, the SITA newswire wrote.
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- The compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
