Archive of articles - March 2009, page 12
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Use of Czech language to be allowed in Slovak state offices
People will be able to use the Czech language in Slovak state offices, according to an amendment to the State Language Act approved by the government on March 11. The amendment will also permit people to speak the Czech language on television and radio broadcastings in Slovakia and allows for live broadcasts in foreign languages with simultaneous translation into Slovak, reports the TASR newswire. Programs aimed at teaching a foreign language teaching and theatrical pieces prepared in foreign languages are not required to use Slovak. The obligation to use Slovak at cultural events where the Czech language is spoken has been scrapped as well. Non-standard use of the Slovak language in public speeches is permitted as well, as long as it is used with a functional purpose. Minorities can use their native languages at healthcare and social facilities in Slovakia provided that they only do so in towns and villages where at least 20 percent of the inhabitants come from the given minority. Associations, political parties and social groups will have to prepare financial and technical reports and statutes in both the state language and in the language of the minority group that runs the organisation concerned.
Slovak government approves second PPP road package
On March 11, the government approved the Transport Ministry’s proposal to conclude a contract for the so-called second package of public-private partnership (PPP) projects for road construction in Slovakia, the TASR newswire wrote.
Antipodean perspectives on the EU now on iTunes
Beginning in March 2009 the interviews that Stefan Auer, Deputy Director of the Innovative Universities European Union Centre (IUEU), has been using as a component of his innovative course on the European Union will have a new form of delivery, and potentially a far larger audience than the 350 or so undergraduates they currently reach each year. These materials, used by the IUEU to teach the course on the EU across Australia, will now be accessible to students and other interested parties all around the world. The 50-minute interviews Dr Auer has conducted with prominent experts on, and officials of, the EU, will now be available to the global public as part of the extensive iTunes catalogue. His interviewees in 2008 included the (then) EU Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Bruno Julien, the Irish Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Máirtín Ó Fainín, as well as Professor Richard Pearson from Sussex University. From the start of the academic year in March 2009 another 10 interviews will be recorded for the undergraduate program and then made available on iTunes.
Poland: Visegrad Summer School – Call for applications
The call for application for the 8th edition of the Visegrad Summer School (VSS), which takes place every year in Villa Decius in Krakow, Poland, is now open. VSS is a two-week educational programme which provides an interdisciplinary learning environment for young Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Slovak students as well as for their peers from other central and eastern European countries. The 8th programme will take place from June 28 to July 11, 2009.
Hungary: CEU Summer University – Call for applications
Established in 1996, the Central European University's Summer University program (SUN) hosts high-level, research-oriented, interdisciplinary and innovative academic courses as well as workshops on policy issues for professional development in the social sciences and the humanities. Courses are taught by distinguished international faculty (including CEU professors), and the participants are advanced doctoral students, junior or post-doctoral researchers, teachers and professionals. While applications from all over the world are encouraged, priority continues to be given to applicants from central and eastern Europe, the countries of the former Soviet Union and countries with emerging democracies worldwide. Applicants from these countries, when admitted on merit, will be eligible for scholarships, while those from developed countries will usually be expected to pay their own fees.
Finland: Helsinki Summer School – Call for applications
Helsinki Summer School is a three-week academic event organised every August by the nine universities in the Helsinki area. Each year advanced degree students from over 60 countries get an experience that combines high quality academics with a wide range of cultural and social activities. The multidisciplinary courses, all of which are taught in English, aim at stimulating thought and intellectual development in an open and diverse environment. This summer the Helsinki Summer School will be offering sixteen fully accredited courses covering a wide range of academic fields - from Customer Equity to Behavioural Sciences and Conceptual History to the Planning and Management of Urban Green Space.
Scholarship program in China for young Europeans
As a follow-up to the 2006 China-EU Summit, the Chinese government launched a scholarship programme entitled the Chinese Government Scholarship Programme (EU Window) in January 2007. This programme is a full scholarship established by the Chinese Ministry of Education for students from Europe with the goal to expand student exchanges between China and the European Union. The programme will provide 100 full scholarships per academic year from 2007 to 2011. Young people from EU countries with senior high school diplomas and higher may apply for this programme. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35.
Czech Republic: European Journalism Institute summer seminar – Call for applications
This summer you can join working journalists and journalism students for a unique one-week seminar in Prague in the Czech Republic. The European Journalism Institute (EJI) will be held from July 11 to 18, 2009 in conjunction with the three-week American Institute on Political and Economic Systems (AIPES) program, also sponsored by The Fund for American Studies (TFAS).
Pensioners can claim tax back
Pensioners who worked in Slovakia in 2008 will be able to recover tax deducted by their employer – providing they submit a tax return within the next three weeks.
Fees for administration of pension funds likely to change in July
The cabinet has proposed changes to the fees that pension fund management companies can charge savers in the second – or capitalisation - pillar of the pension system.
Car-scrapping bonus not for cars bought via leasing
The car-scrapping bonus which, since March 9, the Economy Ministry has been granting to anyone who has their old car scrapped and replaces it by buying a new one, will not apply to cars bought through leasing.
Government backs fines for bad Slovak
A proposed amendment to the act on state language, which would introduce stricter sanctions on incorrect use of the Slovak language, received government approval on March 11 and will now be submitted to parliament
Presidential candidate’s website reportedly hacked
The website of presidential candidate Zuzana Martináková was reportedly hacked on Tuesday, March 10.
Extraordinary parliamentary session opens - and immediately closes
An extraordinary parliamentary session initiated by the opposition to discuss its anti-crisis proposals opened on Tuesday, March 10, but closed almost immediately after the coalition voted against the agenda.
Prices of selected goods down 0.2 percent at the end of February
The prices of selected goods and services in Slovakia fell by an average of 0.2 percent between February 21 and 28, the Statistics Office announced on Tuesday, March 10.
Slovak MPs approve fast-track proceedings for three government amendments
Parliament on March 10 approved shortened legislative proceedings for three legal amendments submitted by the government to the ongoing parliamentary session
VAT for restaurants might be lowered
Prime Minister Robert Fico has said that the value added tax (VAT) for Slovak restaurants might be lowered. He made the statement at the meeting of the parliamentary committee for European Affairs in a reaction to a similar measure that was proposed by France at the meeting of the EU’s Ecofin Council.
Postal and communication sector had highest average wages in January
The highest average nominal monthly wage in January 2009 was reported in the sector of postal services, information and communications, at €1.204.33. Data from the Slovak Statistics Office showed the following average wages by sector: industry - €713.71, transport - €707.25, the wholesale sector - €706.87, sales and repairs of motor vehicles - €675.67, accommodations - €548.90, construction - €529.22, retail businesses - €514.80, and restaurants and pubs - €341.05, as reported by the SITA newswire.
Volkswagen Slovakia to reduce production of luxury cars
Volkswagen Slovakia will most likely not produce the VW luxury models Touareg and Porsche Cayenne on Thursday and Friday, March 12-13, the leader of the factory’s trade union, Zoroslav Smolinsky, told the SITA newswire and he expects the same measure to be taken for the last two days of the following week.
Central Bank says fixed fees for pension administrators will not cover expenses
The fee adopted by parliament for the administration of the fixed part of second pillar pension funds at the level of 0.025 percent does not cover actual expenses, the spokesperson for the Slovak Central Bank (NBS), Jana Kováčová, told the TASR newswire on March 9, adding that this will significantly influence the business conditions of the pension management companies (DSSs).
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- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
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- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Legendary captain Zdeno Chára inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame Video
- Liberal MP's boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- 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 More articles ›
