Archive of articles - September 2010, page 3
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Two villages confused referendum stats
ALTHOUGH the Statistics Office as well as the Central Commission for the Referendum claimed there were no serious problems in tabulating the ballots cast in the September 18 referendum, Markíza TV reported on September 19 that two neighbouring villages in eastern Slovakia, Ratvaj and Uzovce, did not have a voter turnout as high as the Statistics Office had reported.
Cabinet raises tax rates to generate additional funds
TO CONSOLIDATE the state’s finances the government of Iveta Radičová adopted a number of changes on September 22 which will now be subject to approval by parliament. An increase in value added tax as well as higher excise taxes and the cancellation of many tax exemptions should, along with other moves, bring an additional €770 million into the state’s coffers next year.
Quote of the week
“I hope this pseudo-case will soon be over.”
Tax holidays for investors in Slovakia
SLOVAKIA uses tax holiday as one of its investment stimuli and dozens of companies are currently enjoying tax holidays, which in some cases amount to millions of euros. In this way the state loses euros in lower taxes, but in return investors bring jobs to Slovakia, the aktualne.sk news web portal wrote. Among companies enjoying tax relief are automotive companies, but also a major steelmaker. Experts argue that the government should focus on supporting companies who bring investments with added value into Slovakia.
New head of NDS appointed
TRANSPORT Minister Ján Figeľ has appointed new chairmen of the board of directors of two state-run joint-stock companies within his department, effective from September 20.
EU VAT refund applications
PAYERS of value added tax (VAT) may ask for a VAT refund from other EU member countries for 2009 only via electronic means up to the end of September.
Non-profit group urges sterilisation for dogs
THE NON-PROFIT organisation Sloboda zvierat (Animal Freedom) is alarmed by the number of abandoned and unwanted animals in Slovakia. Its head, Pavla Dugovičová, told the TASR newswire that the only solution to the problem is a programme of methodical sterilisation of stray animals – not only those already in shelters. She said that most dogs leaving their organisation’s main shelter in Bratislava have already been sterilised – as many as 90 percent – and their aim is to reach 100 percent, adding that all regional centres of Sloboda zvierat and some other environmental associations also share this goal.
Handlová’s changing fortunes
THE MINING town of Handlová was founded in 1376, and in the same year construction of the Roman Catholic Church of St Catherine began. The ancient church still stands here, although in a slightly modified form following several reconstructions. It survived fires and raids by Crimean Tatars, but always managed to recover and today has one of the most beautiful church cupolas in Slovakia.
Top court officials accused of breaching rules
THE LEADERSHIP of Slovakia’s Supreme Court may have breached the rules for assigning cases to judges and senates, the transparency watchdog Fair-Play Alliance alleged in mid-September. While the NGO claims there are suspicions of serious interference in the independence of the judiciary, the Supreme Court president has dismissed its allegations as a politically motivated campaign against him personally.
A new record – 23,420 kisses in 12 hours
ON SEPTEMBER 14, Slovakia made an attempt to set a new record in collecting “kisses” – marks of lipstick-tainted lips smooched onto small papers. The attempt to break the record began at 7:00 simultaneously in 50 cities and towns with the goal not only of breaking the previous Slovak record of 3,014 kisses set in 2004 but also of establishing a new world record. Because the old Slovak record had been accomplished over several days, this attempt was limited to a single day so that a legitimate challenge could be made to the current one-day world record set in Istanbul – where 2,302 kisses were collected.
Public procurement remains problematic
AUDITING companies can provide valuable recommendations from an outsider’s vantage point to administrators of public institutions and contribute to making the expenditure of public funds and their administrative procedures more effective. But an audit and its suggestions will not automatically mean improvement – this can only be achieved if the recommendations are implemented.
Coalition backs a common candidate
THE FOUR parties of the ruling coalition have agreed on a joint candidate to face the independent candidate supported by Smer, current Petržalka mayor Milan Ftáčnik, and civic activist Anton Hlina in the battle to become mayor of Bratislava this November.
Small breweries warn over hike
A PLANNED rise in the excise tax on beer as of next March might have a destructive effect on small independent breweries, some of which could be forced to end their operations. So says the Association of Small Independent Breweries, which warned about this possibility in early September.
Pensioners to feel the squeeze too
SENSITIVE but necessary: this is how Slovakia’s labour minister described the changes he has proposed that will affect the country’s one million pensioners. The government did not spare senior citizens when preparing its grand austerity package designed to reduce the country’s public finance deficit as the cabinet of Iveta Radičová approved a draft amendment to the law on social insurance on September 22 which will change the method by which annual increases in pensions will be calculated in the future.
International Grand Prix brings clouds of steam to Zvolen
THE 12TH year of the international Grand Prix for steam engines took place on September 11 at its traditional venue at Zvolen railway station.
Making art in Špania Dolina
ŠPANIA Dolina 2010, an international symposium for painters and sculptors dedicated to Josef Langer, who created most of his paintings in this Slovak village, welcomed 15 artists from seven countries for its eighth annual edition.
NATO military chiefs meet
THE MOUNTAINS of Slovakia hosted the highest military officials of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) over the weekend of September 17-19. The heads of defence departments of member states, presided over by Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, the chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, focused primarily on ongoing military operations, possible reforms in the alliance and the so-called New Strategic Concept.
Supreme Audit Office will look into Hayeks’ deals - updated
THE SUPREME Audit Office (NKÚ ) will look into deals that have been making print press headlines over the past couple of weeks and have heated up the situation in Slovakia’s ruling coalition. The audit authority’s scrutiny means that for now Martin Chren, nominated by Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) as state secretary (i.e. deputy minister) at the Ministry of Economy, and Ivan Švejna, nominated by Most-Híd as state secretary at the Ministry of Transport will keep their positions. The heads of both individuals will however roll if the deals that Hayek Consulting, the company which they co-owned, manufactured with the current government as well as its predecessor, display irregularities, or are found in violation of the procurement rules.
Social insurer gets new boss
ĽUBOŠ Lopatka, currently regional manager for central Europe at the Metsa Tissue company, has been appointed the new director general of the state-run social insurer Sociálna Poisťovňa. Labour Minister Jozef Mihál submitted the proposal to appoint Lopatka with effect from September 22, the SITA newswire reported.
Institutions in the tax and audit field in Slovakia
Ministry of Finance, www.finance.gov.sk
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