Archive of articles - May 2009, page 10
If you desire to read an old article, use the search bar or select the publication date.
Slovakia to face legal action by EC
The European Commission (EC) sent three official notes to Slovakia on Thursday, May 14, in which it warns that the country will face legal action, the Sme.sk news website has reported.
Former PM Dzurinda: Fico to blame for 13-point slump in Slovakia’s GDP growth rate
Prime Minister Robert Fico’s policies are beyond any doubt to blame for a 13-percentage point fall in Slovakia's GDP growth rate in just two years, said opposition leader and former prime minster Mikuláš Dzurinda on Wednesday, May 13.
Finance minister signals tax changes
Following a similar announcement recently by Prime Minister Robert Fico, further changes in the setting of taxes and levies were announced by Finance Minister Ján Počiatek on May 13.
Slovak PM Fico: Dzurinda ‘wicked and hypocritical’ in blaming him for crisis
Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday, May 13, responded to earlier comments by opposition leader Mikuláš Dzurinda, decrying what he called the “wickedness and hypocrisy” of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) party chairman, as well as party vice-chairman, Ivan Mikloš.
New Czech prime minister to visit Slovakia
The newly appointed Czech prime minister, Jan Fischer, will visit Slovakia on May 15 at the invitation of his Slovak counterpart, Robert Fico, according to a proposal approved by the Government on Wednesday, May 13.
Construction ministry not seeking return of spent ‘bulletin-board tender’ funds
The Construction and Regional Development Ministry said on May 13 that it has not sought to and does not intend to recover the funds already released under a €119.5-million contract that was awarded to firms close to the Slovak National Party (SNS), whose nominees have served as construction ministers, the TASR newswire reported.
SDKÚ vice-chair says €2.65 billion lost due to government waste
Opposition SDKÚ vice-chairman Ivan Mikloš said on May 13 for the TASR newswire that Slovakia is losing nearly €2.65 billion due to overpriced tenders and other public resources being misspent. The party on that day published a list of 33 cases that are, in its opinion, the most striking in terms of unsound government spending. According to Mikloš, a former finance minister, this money will be especially missed now in the period of economic downturn. He added that as much as €1.99 billion was misspent from overpriced tenders and other unnecessary expenditures of public resources from sectors and institutions controlled by nominees of the Smer political party.
Finance minister calls SDKÚ presentation a ‘pseudo-list’
Finance Minister Ján Počiatek said on May 13 that the list of overpriced tenders that was presented by the strongest opposition party SDKÚ earlier in the day is a mere pseudo-list, as reported by the TASR newswire. “There are items that are not related either to 2008 or to 2009 and there is a summary of various theoretical figures that don't clarify much. It is difficult to take any stance on this list,” Počiatek told journalists.
Sole bid for third PPP package to be assessed in 2-3 weeks
The evaluation of the only bid submitted for the tender for motorway construction within the third package of private public partnership (PPP) projects should be completed within two to three weeks, said Transport, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Ľubomír Vážny to the TASR newswire on May 13. “The evaluation is currently underway. Only one bid has been submitted. The competition is valid, however. The Public Procurement Act doesn't rule out only one bid being submitted and evaluated,” said Vážny, as quoted by TASR.
Reconstruction of Bratislava’s tram tunnel begins
The Bratislava Transport Company (DPB) has begun a long-planned reconstruction of the tram tunnel under Bratislava Castle.
Slovakia’s headline inflation down to 2.3 percent in April
The headline inflation rate in Slovakia is continuing to fall. Year-on-year (y/y) growth in consumer prices slowed from 2.6 percent in March to 2.3 percent in April.
President signs several bills into laws
On May 13, Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič signed into law a bill on financial intermediation and financial consulting.
Over one quarter of Slovak towns have no internet connection
Broadband internet is used by 15 percent of the Slovak population, but up to 27 percent of the country’s 2,928 towns and villages are unable to connect to broadband internet, a significant shortcoming compared to other EU and OECD countries, said Ivan Istvanffy from the Government Office on Tuesday, May 12.
Only one bidder for third package of motorway construction
Only one bidder has shown an interest in tendering for the third package of private-public partnership projects (PPP) to build motorways in Slovakia, Transport, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry spokesman Stanislav Jurikovič said on May 12.
Slovakia celebrates 5th anniversary of EU entry in Brussels
A presentation by Slovak companies at a ‘Taste of Slovakia’ conference in Brussels on Tuesday, May 12, marked the beginning of celebrations of the fifth anniversary of Slovakia’s entry into the European Union (EU). The event took place at the Royal Museum of Art and History in the Belgian capital.
Fico demands ‘proof’ over quotas contract
Prime Minister Robert Fico said at a press conference on May 12 that if the Slovak opposition or media doesn’t present proof that the sale of the country’s excess carbon-dioxide emission quotas was disadvantageous for Slovakia by next Monday, the whole affair will cease to exist for him.
PSA Peugeot Citroen in Trnava boosts production
PSA Peugeot Citroen’s plant in Trnava is to raise its daily production from 850 to 900 cars as of June due to increased demand for small cars around Europe, PSA Peugeot Citroen Slovakia communications director Peter Švec said on Tuesday, May 12.
Decrease in Slovakia's exports moderates in March
Following a small improvement in March output and sales in Slovak industry, the pace of the decline in Slovakia's exports also slowed down. According to preliminary data from the Statistics Office, Slovakia's exports in March reached €3.352 billion, which was a decline of 20.1 percent y-o-y. However, it was an improvement from February's drop of 32 percent and January's fall of 33.6 percent, the SITA newswire reported.
Opposition demands Construction Minister’s resignation
PRIME Minister Robert Fico should immediately dismiss the Minister of Construction and Regional Development Igor Štefanov (a nominee of the Slovak National Party – SNS) who the opposition believes shares the responsibility for the scandal involving the so-called bulletin-board tender. If the PM does not act before May 14, Mikuláš Dzurinda, the leader of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) says the opposition will deliver a request to call an extraordinary parliamentary session to hold a no-confidence vote on Štefanov, the SITA newswire reported after a meeting of opposition leaders on May 12.
Survey reports Roma have problems with jobs, schooling and hygiene
The Roma minority has problems with finding employment, with keeping their children in school and with hygienic standards, the Union of Roma in Slovakia, a civic association that brings together about 190 Roma NGOs, stated. The Union also complained about the unwillingness of governmental representatives to communicate with their minority. These are the results of a survey in which over 1,000 Roma took part, the SITA newswire reported.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- 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
- 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
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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
- 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
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- 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
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- 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
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- 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
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process More articles ›
