Archive of articles - October 2009, page 3
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A first for Bratislava - and for Rasmussen
BRATISLAVA was – for just a couple of days – one of the most important and best-protected cities in the world as NATO defence ministers gathered in the Slovak capital on October 22 and 23. The occasion was one of the alliance’s regular informal meetings to discuss current hot topics on NATO’s agenda – including its strategy for the future.
What’s next, Mr Fico?
IT WAS predictable enough that politicians who have a somewhat troubled relationship with the media would welcome news of recent tensions between US President Barack Obama and right-wing TV channel Fox News.
Afghanistan and missile defence top NATO agenda
NATO’s operations in Afghanistan – which continue to attract a chorus of critical voices from across the alliance’s member states, some of them calling for the withdrawal of allied troops from the country – and the recently changed missile defence plans of the United States topped the agenda of the informal meeting of NATO defence ministers held in Bratislava on October 22 and 23.
Crude oil pipeline Bratislava - Austria
THE CONSTRUCTION of a crude oil pipeline connecting refineries in Bratislava and the Austrian town of Schwechat should start in 2012, Slovak Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek told a news conference after the signing of a memorandum on cooperation in the energy sector between Slovakia and Austria. He also said that necessary legislation should be adopted by Slovak lawmakers by the end of 2009, the SITA newswire reported.
Automotive sector is predicted to grow
THE SLOVAK economic situation should start to gradually stabilise in 2010, according to forecasts developed by the Economy Ministry and the ministry is predicting optimistic results for the automotive industry, one of the most important industrial sectors in Slovakia. The ministry expects the output of the automotive industry in Slovakia to increase to 544,000 cars next year with a further increase to 900,000 cars in 2011, the SITA newswire reported.
Press freedom deteriorates in Slovakia
SLOVAKIA dropped to 44th place in the 2009 Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, an international NGO. Last year Slovakia stood in 7th place.
Over 40,000 jobs to go in mass layoffs
THE NUMBER of jobs lost or threatened by mass layoffs in Slovakia during 2009 now exceeds 40,000.
Call for Afghanistan withdrawal
A DECLARATION called “It’s Time to Leave, It’s Time to Negotiate” initiated by Slovak intellectuals rejects NATO’s plan to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan, one of the topics of the informal meeting of defence ministers held in Bratislava.
Now Slovakia questions Lisbon Treaty
THE EUPHORIA that sprang from Ireland like leprechauns in spring after its citizens approved the Lisbon Treaty did not extend as far as Prague, where Czech President Václav Klaus has hesitated to sign the treaty. Two weeks after the Irish ‘yes’ vote, the Slovak prime minister has now also surprised European leaders by saying that he too may have a problem with the treaty – despite the fact that it has already been ratified.
Institutions and organisations of employees and employers in Slovakia
Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (MPSVR)
A wall to keep out Roma
TENSIONS between the mainly Roma inhabitants of a settlement next to the village of Ostrovany, near Šarišské Michaľany in eastern Slovakia, and the village’s mainly non-Roma population now have a physical embodiment: a wall that the local authorities agreed to build in order to separate the settlement from the rest of the village. While non-Roma villagers claim the wall is the only way to prevent raids on their fruit gardens from the Roma settlement, local Roma protest that the wall has turned their settlement into a zoo.
Part-time jobs unpopular in Slovakia
WITHIN the European Union Slovakia has one of the lowest rates of people working part-time.
Opposition seeks to oust Štefanov
TWO OPPOSITION parties, the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), agreed that they will initiate a no-confidence vote against Construction Minister Igor Štefanov. They claim that Štefanov is responsible for the non-transparent bulletin-board tender that involved use of EU funds, the SITA newswire reported.
Ever more Slovaks return - some with new skills
THE ADMISSION of Slovakia into the European Union a few years ago opened doors for Slovaks eager to work abroad either to earn better salaries than at home or to gain new job skills. The Czech Republic has traditionally been a popular working destination for Slovaks because there is no language barrier but other favourite destinations have been Great Britain and Ireland. But the global economic crisis has brought many Slovaks home and September figures show that migration back to Slovakia is continuing at a high pace.
Man imprisoned for 1976 murder is freed
THE LAST remaining convicted murderer of medical student Ľudmila Cervanová, Milan Andrášik, was conditionally released from prison after serving two-thirds of his prison sentence, the Sme daily reported.
Searching for talent
The global economic decline has changed the job market for middle and top managers as well as for executive search firms – pushing them to look for new ways to meet the needs of their clients. Some middle, or even top, managers have found themselves accepting job offers which they never would have considered in the past. The threat of unemployment has increased the loyalty of employees and executive search firms have needed to adopt their own cost-saving measures and to offer new types of services.
Jobless rate jumps again
THE CONDITION of the Slovak labour market continued worsening in September. Under the influence of the global economic downturn, which is significantly affecting the small and export-oriented Slovak economy, the number of unemployed grew again. While market watchers expect Slovakia’s jobless rate to continue growing during the next few months, experts see as a positive sign that the fall in the number of job vacancies has now stopped.
When a monarchy falls
AT THE turn of October and November in 1918, the streets of many Slovak towns and villages looked like Myjava, shown in the postcard. The Habsburg monarchy was falling apart and the citizens were experiencing the hope of a new and independent Czechoslovak Republic.
Cabinet raises minimum wage by 4.1%
THE MINIMUM monthly wage in Slovakia will increase by 4.1 percent at the beginning of next year, to €307.70.
Awards for corporate philanthropy
A RECENT ranking of Slovak companies according to the amount they spend on supporting socially-responsible projects was published by the Slovak Donors’ Forum on October 15.
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- UK appoints Bilal Zahid as new ambassador to Slovakia
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- 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
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- 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
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- Paris leads, Bratislava trails: European cities ranked on safe travel for children
- 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 Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- 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 ›
