Archive of articles - February 2010, page 9
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Powerholics Anonymous
POWER is awfully intoxicating. Very few can resist the damaging but not unexpected deviations that it brings. This is why it often happens that presidents and prime ministers, regardless of the political gardens they come from and the colours they wear, after years of ingesting excessive power start showing some common symptoms.
Construction Ministry flubs another tender
THE MINISTRY responsible for one of the gravest scandals of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government, the ‘bulletin-board tender’ of 2007 in which over three billion crowns (€100 million) in EU funds were awarded to an apparently pre-selected bidder, has a new gaffe to explain: a tender for €7.8 million whose conditions were so stringent that only one company seemed able to meet them. On February 10, the Ministry of Construction and Regional Development announced that it was scrapping the multi-million tender which it called last year to find a firm to evaluate the ministry’s use of funds from the EU. In explaining the decision, the ministry cited Prime Minister Fico’s decision to merge the construction ministry with the Ministry of Economy.
Denmark offers Slovakia recipe for renewability
DENMARK is a green spot on the face of Europe. This goes for its geographical topography, with the lowland country’s highest peak reaching some 170 metres above sea level, but it is also true when considering its environmental awareness and public spending devoted to issues relating to climate change and sustainable growth. Denmark is simply green, and, as such, could serve as an example for other European countries.
Quote of the week
"The SNS has always respected the coalition treaty and we have always kept our mouths shut, but the time has come to say that enough is enough."
Some Swedish companies in Slovakia
ABB, www.abb.sk
Some Danish companies in Slovakia
Danfoss, Slovensko, Zlaté Moravce, www.danfoss.com/Slovakia
EU to fund signing for bureaucrats
OVER 200 bureaucrats working in regional and state administration will learn sign language as part of a European Education Academy project supported by the EU’s Education operational programme, the TASR newswire reported.
Historic cultural centre faces wrecking ball
THE CITY of Bratislava has removed legal barriers that have been protecting the historic Park of Culture and Recreation (PKO) building from destruction, say advocacy groups.
Mayors expect tax shortfall in March
THE SLOVAK Association of Towns and Villages (ZMOS) expect a significant shortfall in their share of personal income tax revenues in March. There is still an impending risk of a shortage of disposable financial resources for towns and villages in the first half of this year.
Flocking bustards thrive in Slovakia
THANKS to the efforts of conservationists, a community of Great Bustards has recently started to prosper in the Sysľovské Polia protected bird territory near Bratislava. Native to southern and central Europe, the Great Bustard has been listed as a vulnerable species and has been declining recently, due to a loss of habitat.
More than IKEA, Volvo and Ericsson
BUSINESS relations between Slovakia and Sweden have a long tradition. Names of multinational Swedish giants like IKEA, Volvo, and Ericsson have been known in Slovakia for decades and have created a good basis for mutual business relations. Slovakia’s membership in the European Union and the euro-zone has made it even more attractive for Swedish investors who see areas such as energy efficiency, logistics and metallurgy as well as food and fashion as good opportunities for more trade and investment relationships between the two countries.
Danish institutions in Slovakia
Royal Danish Embassy
Rectors to ask Mečár to leave academia
THE SLOVAK Rectors’ Conference has announced its plan to request the outgoing rector of Trenčín University, Miroslav Mečár, to leave academia entirely and stop discrediting Slovakia's education sector, the SITA newswire reported on February 8.
Inter-ethnic relations are sore spot in Slovak society
LAST year was visibly marked by growing animosities between majority and minority groups in many countries, not only in Slovakia. But here, growing tensions between Slovaks and ethnic Hungarian and Roma minorities were clearly in focus, often fuelled by statements by politicians. With a relentless political campaign expected this year leading up to the national elections in June, observers say that minority issues and ethnic conflicts will not be spared, since the so-called Hungarian card belongs among the favourite campaign tools among Slovak politicians and suspicions of political parties buying Roma votes have become election folklore.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
Finance Ministry updates GDP forecast
THE FINANCE Ministry has revised its previous forecast for growth in the Slovak economy in 2010 to 2.8 percent, up from the 1.9 percent expected in autumn 2009, the TASR newswire reported.
They said we were crazy…
THE WORLD Economic Forum 2010 took place a few days ago. This is a gathering traditionally dominated by grey men in grey suits. It still is. But the good news is that the men in grey suits are increasingly taking an interest in gender equality. And why this interest? The reason is simple – and I quote from one of their reports: “…countries that do not fully capitalise effectively on one-half of their human resources run the risk of undermining their competitive potential”. In other words – no society can afford to ignore female talents!
Norwegian institutions in Slovakia
Royal Norwegian Embassy
Danish investors worry about the euro and corruption
DANISH business circles remain interested in Slovakia, but the introduction of the euro has made the labour force in Hungary and Poland cheaper than in Slovakia. Corruption and the legal system do not make Slovakia more attractive in the eyes of Danish investors either.
Recovery isn't speedway sprint
THOUGH production in industry blessed the Slovak economy with some good numbers last December, analysts advise keeping one’s optimism in check, saying the road leading out of the economic crisis will still be long and rocky.
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- A divided Slovakia still deserves hope, president says in national address
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Poland edges toward green light on long-delayed Kraków–Košice rail revival
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Slovak physicist: I do not employ doctoral students; I make them go abroad. I expect them to push us forward
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- News digest: Fico tells Berlin Slovakia will not take lessons on Russia
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Poland edges toward green light on long-delayed Kraków–Košice rail revival
- Fico turns to X to shape his global image
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- News digest: Brussels committee launches scrutiny of EU funds in Slovakia
- News digest: Fico tells Berlin Slovakia will not take lessons on Russia
- Zdeno Chára inducted into world hockey hall of fame Video
- 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
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- News digest: Slovakia lacks lasting vision, says President in special address Photo
- One year on: Slovakia still unable to deport alleged terror suspect
- A divided Slovakia still deserves hope, president says in national address
- Where can vegetarians and gluten-free diners eat out in Bratislava?
- Slovak physicist: I do not employ doctoral students; I make them go abroad. I expect them to push us forward
- Fico turns to X to shape his global image
- Iron Age hillfort found in remote Slovak woodland Photo
- News digest: Fico tells Berlin Slovakia will not take lessons on Russia More articles ›
