Archive of articles - February 2009, page 5
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MPs to be tested for alcohol following car accidents
MPs who are involved in car accidents will no longer be able to refuse to undergo tests for alcohol (or other addictive substances) as of April, according to an amendment approved in Parliament on February 17.
INDUSTRY EXPO and ELEKTRO EXPO fairs open in Bratislava
The third INDUSTRY EXPO 2009 international fair, showcasing new technology and innovations, opened its doors at the Incheba exhibition grounds in Bratislava on February 17, accompanied by a new ELECTRO EXPO fair, which showcases electrical engineering, electronics and the energy industry.
Parliament relaxes budgetary rules for local and regional authorities
As part of the package of measures designed to tackle the effects of the economic crisis, parliament on Tuesday, February 17, approved a bill modifying budgetary rules for local and regional authorities.
Smokers to be separated in cafes and restaurants
An amendment to the Non-smokers Protection Act under which facilities that prepare and serve food must build a solid wall dividing smokers from non-smokers was approved by parliament on February 17.
Slovak wages set to stagnate in 2009
Slovaks should not expect much higher salaries in the coming months. Because the country’s economy has entered a crisis mode, employers will be more reluctant to increase wages. Even the trade unions agreed during their recent negotiations with the government to be moderate when demanding wage hikes. On the other hand, weakening currencies in neighbouring countries which are not part of the eurozone means that Slovakia’s euro salaries will grow in comparison with salaries in other non-euro countries.
Parliament approves draft revisions to energy laws
The Slovak parliament approved revisions to several energy laws on February 17 which will give the state higher control over underground natural gas reservoirs. The government cabinet had approved revisions to laws on the energy sector, on regulation of network industries and to the mining law in late January in response to this year’s natural gas crisis.
Slovakia ratifies the European Social Charter
Parliament ratified the revised European Social Charter (ESC) on February 17 despite strong disagreement from the opposition parties, the SITA newswire reported.
Constitutional Court handling many filings from Lawyer Partners law firm
The Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic has received over 55,000 legal filings in the 15 years of its existence. But the law firm named Lawyer Partners has filed almost 34,000 of them, mainly dealing with concession fees for the public broadcaster Slovak Radio. Because of that, the Court records in its statistics ‘including Lawyer Partners’ or ‘not including Lawyer Partners’, said Ivetta Macejková, the spokeswoman of the Constitutional Court, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
Počiatek says Slovak government will keep budget deficit under 3%
The Slovak government will respect the EU’s Growth and Stability Pact by keeping the public finance deficit below the 3 percent threshold set by the Maastricht criterion, said Finance Minister Ján Počiatek after an Economic Crisis Council session on February 16, as reported by the TASR newswire.
Slovakia losing competitive advantage of low labour costs says bank analyst
If the current exchange rates between Slovakia and the three other members of the Visegrad Four (Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland) remain as they are, Slovakia’s workforce will become dramatically more expensive, warned UniCredit Bank’s chief analyst Ján Tóth on February 16, as reported by the TASR newswire.
Lajčák meets top Hungarian representatives in Budapest
Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák is meeting the highest Hungarian political representatives in Budapest on Tuesday, February 17 it was announced on February 16. Lajčák was invited for an official visit by his Hungarian counterpart Kinga Goncz. The two will discuss bilateral relations and measures adopted to reduce the impacts of the global financial and economic crisis, the TASR newswire wrote. Lajčák is also to meet Hungarian President László Sólyom and Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány. The chief Slovak diplomat will then meet representatives of the National Slovak Authority and the Slovak Union in Hungary. TASR
SNS may file criminal complaint against Fair Play Alliance's Wienk
The Slovak National Party (SNS) is expected to file a criminal complaint in the next few days against the director of the Fair Play Alliance, Zuzana Wienk, as a response to her organisation’s statements regarding a tender at the Construction Ministry, which is headed by SNS nominee Marián Janušek, SNS spokesperson Jana Benková told the TASR newswire on February 16.
Special prosecutor proposes life sentence for head of crime group
In his final plea on February 16, Slovakia’s Special Prosecutor proposed a life sentence for the alleged head of an organized crime group from Eastern Slovakia, Róbert Okoličány. In this trial, 16 people are accused of 19 crimes, the SME daily wrote on February 16.
ÚVO probe of construction ministry tender delivered to the ministry
The Public Procurement Office (ÚVO), which oversees public tenders in Slovakia, announced on February 13 that it had delivered to the Ministry of Construction and Regional Development the results of its investigation of the ministry's contract award on training, interpreting and organising workshops and other services, the TASR newswire wrote.
Employer association says crisis will test Labour Code and other legislation
The global economic crisis is affecting the Slovak economy which is strongly oriented towards the car-making and electronics industries, said Roman Karlubík, vice-president of the Association of Employer Unions and Organisations (AZZZ) at its conference ending on February 13.
Nižňánsky hardly changes STV’s controversial budget and program draft
Štefan Nižňánsky, the general director of public broadcaster Slovak Television (STV), has submitted almost the same budget and program draft as one that was previously rejected by the STV Council, the broadcaster’s supervisory body, the Pravda daily wrote on February 14.
Slovak pavilion at EXPO Zaragoza seen by 225,000 people
The Slovak pavilion at EXPO Zaragoza 2008 in Spain was visited by 225,000 people from 24 countries, the Economy Ministry states in its assessment of Slovakia's involvement in the exposition. EXPO Zaragoza 2008 was an international exposition with the theme of “water and sustainable development”. As many as 104 countries took part in the event, which took place between June 14 and September 14 and attracted 5.6 million visitors, the TASR newswire wrote. Slovakia presented information about its wealth of mineral, thermal and fresh water, as well as its high standards of water resource management. Visitors were able to acquaint themselves with the opportunities for tourism, recreation and spa stays in Slovakia. The most important event for Slovakia was the Slovak national day, which took place on August 3. The Slovak delegation included Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paška, Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek and Construction Ministry State Secretary Daniel Ács among others. TASR
Eastern towns get European money to build brownfield industrial parks
IN THE midst of bad news about layoffs and the departure of foreign investors from Slovakia, more positive tidings have arrived with the news that several tens of million of euros are being allocated to five Slovaks towns in order to revitalise their old industrial premises. These towns, of which four are in or near eastern Slovakia, will reconstruct and modernise their brownfield sites, create new jobs and thus aim to reduce jobless rates near to – or in some cases exceeding – 20 percent.
Figeľ presents EC plans to parliament
SLOVAKIA’s representative in the European Commission (EC), Ján Figeľ, a commissioner responsible for education, training, culture and youth, presented the commission’s programme for 2009 to the Slovak Parliament on February 10.
Quote of the Week:
“I do not want to be a rider on a dead horse.” Miroslav Lajčák, Slovakia’s new foreign minister, recounts his reasons for leaving his former position as High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina and refers to the office's scheduled closure in the near future.
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Cockroaches and crumbling toilets greet seven-year-old battling serious virus
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high
- Cockroaches and crumbling toilets greet seven-year-old battling serious virus
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- News digest: House passes what activists and civic organisations call Russian law Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- Danish shoemaker to shut Slovak factory, axing 650 jobs in fresh blow to struggling region
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high
- News digest: A parade too far? Fico heads to Moscow despite EU warnings Video
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- Cockroaches and crumbling toilets greet seven-year-old battling serious virus
- A café in an ice cellar, sand dunes and a flower shop at the border
- Hollywood turns Slovak highlands into high-speed playground Video
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- You say nazdar, I say dovi
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- Chicken Jockey! Chicken Jockey! Chicken Jockey! Video
- Danish shoemaker to shut Slovak factory, axing 650 jobs in fresh blow to struggling region
- Bratislava opens new support centre for foreigners
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- He has been disciplined for delays. Now he will lead Slovakia’s top court
- Slovak startup Upfan declares war on fake tickets
- Smer MEP tells Slovaks to learn the EU’s rules – so they can break free from Brussels
- Too small to cope alone, Slovak villages are teaming up
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- Weekend: What to make of Easter in Slovakia More articles ›
