Archive of articles - December 2010, page 8
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V4 media confront similar challenges
OVER the past two decades since the fall of communism in the region, media outlets in central Europe have needed to grow more independent from their countries’ government, to learn how to incorporate new technologies into their business models and to find financial success in turbulent market economies.
Visegrad Scholarship Programme
The International Visegrad Fund (IVF) offers master’s andpost-graduate scholarships to selected students for periods of one or two semesters, with the exception of master’s scholarships within the In-Coming programme in which one- to four-semester scholarships can be awarded. With an annual budget of €1,448,000, the IVF will award scholarships for about 400 semesters in the academic year 2010/2011. Applicants whose current university or employer is further than 1,500 km from the selected host university/institute are eligible for a one-time travel grant. Citizens of the following countries can apply: Albania (AL), Armenia (AM), Azerbaijan (AZ), Belarus (BY), Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA), Croatia (HR), the Czech Republic (CZ), Georgia (GE), Hungary (HU), Macedonia (MK), Moldova (MD), Montenegro (ME), Poland (PL), the Russian Federation (RU), Serbia (RS), Slovakia (SK) and Ukraine (UA). The same rules apply to scholars from Kosovo. Scholarship schemes: Intra-Visegrad Scholarships This is suitable for scholars coming from one of the V4 countries who plan to study in a V4 country other than that of their citizenship at any accredited public or private university or an institute of the country’s national academy of sciences. Successful applicants within this scheme will receive scholarships of €2,300/semester and the corresponding host universities/institutes receive €1,500/semester/scholar. In-Coming Scholarships In-Coming Scholarships are suitable for scholars who wish to study at accredited public or private universities or institutes of the respective national academies of sciences in V4 countries. Citizens of the following countries are eligible for In-Coming scholarships: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, the Russian Federation, Serbia and Ukraine as well as scholars from Kosovo. Successful applicants within this scheme will receive scholarships of €2,300/semester and the corresponding host universities/institutes receive €1,500/semester/scholar. Out-Going Scholarships This scheme is for current scholars or master’s degree holders from V4 countries to study at accredited public or private universities or institutes of the respective national academies of sciences in the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine as well as universities in Kosovo. Successful applicants within this scheme will receive scholarships of €2,300/semester and the corresponding host universities/institutes receive €1,500/semester/scholar. -Scholarships for Belarusian students The programme is for Belarusian scholars who wish to study at accredited public or private universities or institutes of the academies of sciences in V4 countries (altogether 60 semesters annually). -Scholarships for Ukrainian students The programme is for Ukrainian scholars who wish to study at accredited public or private universities or institutes of the academies of sciences in V4 countries (altogether 60 semesters annually). Visegrad Scholarships at OSA Archivum (a separate programme) If selected, each scholar receives scholarship funding at the beginning of each five-month period (semester) upon a written confirmation from the host university/institution. The deadline for all scholarship applications is January 31. The results are announced by mid May. For more information go to, http://visegradfund.org/scholarships Source: International Visegrad Fund
Little change among Slovak universities
SLOVAKIA’S annual evaluation of its universities is slowly but surely becoming a tradition – despite not much regard for the rankings among students and even universities themselves. But the quality of Slovak universities, according to the sixth edition of the overall ranking, seems to be showing little improvement. There are, however, examples of faculties whose standing has risen significantly, or has sunk correspondingly quickly, during the past year.
Survey: Bribes more common in Slovakia than in western Europe
One in four households in Slovakia that sought help from the Slovak health service over the past year paid a bribe, according to the 2010 Global Corruption Barometer survey, the results of which were released on Thursday, December 9.
Lipšic: 'Fico tape' police investigator wasn't pressured
The female police investigator who dealt with the case of the so-called Fico tape, which allegedly provides evidence of shady financing of the Smer party, has signed an official document in which she states that no pressure was put on her in the case, Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic (Christian Democratic Movement (KDH)) said at a press conference on Thursday. December 9.
Bratislava Volkswagen plant gearing up for new car model production
Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová on Thursday, December 9, visited the Volkswagen Slovakia plant in Bratislava, whose 6,800 employees make it one of the biggest employers in Slovakia.
Kováčik: Prosecutors shouldn't be exposed to media pressure
It is unacceptable for prosecutors to be exposed to pressure concerning their decisions, or to media pressure after issuing a decision, as has happened in the case of the investigation into a recording of a voice resembling that of Smer chairman Robert Fico, said Special Prosecutor Dušan Kováčik on Thursday. December 9. The voice on the recording was apparently discussing undeclared, and hence illegal, party donations.
Language Act amendment passed; sanctions remain
The Slovak Parliament approved a governing coalition amendment to the State Language Act on Thursday, December 9. The revision tones down the law currently in effect, which was made more stringent by the previous government of Robert Fico, the TASR newswire wrote.
Courts to publish rulings on the internet
Publication of court decisions on the internet, public selection procedures to appoint judges and court chairmen, public tests for judges, and cancellation of bonuses for judges will all be introduced under an amendment proposed by Justice Minister Lucia Žitňanská and approved by the Slovak Parliament on Wednesday, December 8.
Slovak Parliament revises gambling law
The Slovak Parliament debated and passed a revision to the law on gambling during the sixth day of its current session on Wednesday, December 8. The revised law no longer contains the special category of “casino in a recreational complex”.
Growth of industrial output slowed slightly in October, construction output increased
The growth rate of Slovakia's industrial output in October remained almost unchanged, slowing by just 0.1 percentage points month-on-month to 13.4 percent in October. According to the latest figures of the Statistics Office of the Slovak Republic, the growth dynamics of industrial output in Slovakia have been slowing for five consecutive months since a high in may of 28.7 percent.
Survey: Slovaks have low expectations of retirement income security
Most Slovak citizens expect that their retirement income will be insufficient to cover their needs. According to a survey carried out by pensions and insurance firm AXA people’s expectation of sufficient pension income is weak in Slovakia and far below the European average.
Slovakia sends humanitarian aid to flood-hit Montenegro
After catastrophic floods in Montenegro over recent days the Slovak Foreign Ministry together with the Ministry of Interior has announced it is sending material humanitarian aid worth €124,000.
Parliament approves 2011 budget with deficit dropping to €3.81 billion
Parliament voted in favour of the state budget for 2011 on December 8, with the deficit set to drop from this year's €4.54 billion to €3.81 billion in 2011, the TASR newswire reported. Overall state revenues are proposed at €13.15 billion with expenditures to reach €16.96 billion in 2011. The bill was backed by 78 of the 147 MPs present, with 69 voting against it. The vote was attended by Prime Minister Iveta Radičová and all cabinet members. In line with expectations, it was supported by ruling coalition MPs while all opposition legislators, who saw all seven of their proposed amendments rejected, voted against the final bill.
Prosecutor Trnka and Interior Minister Lipsic spar over Smer financing investigation
Prosecutor General Dobroslav Trnka on Wednesday, December 8, vehemently rejected Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic's accusations that he was lying about a female prosecutor looking into a tape recording that allegedly features former Robert Fico discussing efforts to personally secure financing for the Smer party before the 2002 general election, the TASR newswire reported. "I'm not a liar! Somebody must have gone crazy, but it's not me," Trnka told the TASR newswire in a reaction to Lipšic's statement that Trnka had lied in his press conference earlier Wednesday when he said the ministry put pressure on the investigator dealing with the case.
Civil Conservative Party says Trnka has disqualified himself as general prosecutor
General Prosecutor Dobroslav Trnka has joined in a political battle for the post of General Prosecutor, thereby disqualifying himself from holding the post, Peter Zajac, chairman of the Civil Conservative Party (OKS), elected to Parliament on Most-Hid's slate, told the TASR newswire on December 8.
Radičová to lead Slovak delegation at EU winter summit
Prime Minister Iveta Radičová will lead the Slovak delegation along with Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš at the EU summit in Brussels on December 16-17, the government stated on December 8, the TASR newswire wrote. The Council of the European Union is expected to adopt final decisions vis-á-vis common economic policies and the EU's external relations.
National Career Days: A goldmine for employers
The very successful Slovak job fair called “National Career Days” (NDK) is celebrating its 16th annual event in 2011. AIESEC Slovakia – the organizer of NDK – again is offering an opportunity for leading Slovak companies to present their firms and have an opportunity to meet and find young, future employees.
Austria changes terms of new air-passenger tax
The Austrian Finance Ministry has softened conditions for collecting a special tax on airline tickets after protests by local carriers. The fears of a possible outflow of passengers from Vienna Airport to MR Štefánik Airport in Bratislava (BTS) might also have played a role.
Key basketball games threatened by dispute over referees’ pay
THE SLOVAK Association of Men's Basketball Clubs (ZMBK) is likely to suspend nationwide competitions following the failure of the Slovak Basketball Association (SBA) to pay referees for October 2010 by the agreed deadline of December 7, sport news website sport.sk sports reported. The suspension would result in the cancellation of the men’s league matches planned on December 8 and December 9, and future games.
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- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
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- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
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- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process More articles ›
