Archive of articles - March 2012, page 6
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Slovakia is first to ratify Croatia's accession to the EU
The Slovak Republic is the first member of the European Union that has approved ratification of Croatia's accession to the EU, the SITA newswire wrote.
Police charge Slovak lawyer with organising fraudulent marriages
A Slovak lawyer allegedly was arranging fraudulent marriages to help Chinese citizens acquire permanent residence and immigration rights in Slovakia and an investigator for the National Unit to Combat Illegal Migration charged him along with seven people who allegedly participated in sham marriages between 2006 and 2010, the SITA newswire wrote.
China imported the most Slovak-produced cars in 2011
The largest number of Slovak-produced cars did not go to the country’s traditional European trade partners but to China, the SITA newswire reported. An analysis by Poštová Banka found that the highest proportion of exported cars went to China, worth nearly €1.3 billion and representing 14.9 percent of total car exports. Germany was second with a 14.2-percent share and €1.2-billion volume, while France occupied third place with a 13.6-percent share worth almost €1.2 billion.
Police bring charges against head of Takáčovci criminal group
Police have pressed charges against Ľubomír Kudlička, alias Kudla, who is the alleged head of the Takáčovci underworld group in Bratislava, the cas.sk news website wrote on March 15, noting that prosecution has now been launched against the leaders of all criminal gangs in the Slovak capital, as reported by the TASR newswire. Police have arrested or begun prosecuting Juraj Ondrejčák (head of the Piťovci group), Ľubomír Jakšík (the Jakšíkovci group), and Ladislav Bališ and Viliam Rafael, alias Black Vilko, (the Sýkorovci group). A police investigator has accused Kudlička and another 13 people of frauds involving real estate worth €2.5 million, laundering money from criminal activities and setting up a criminal gang.
Survey finds Slovaks trust the EU and the euro
Slovaks trust the euro and the European Union, notwithstanding scepticism that has recently been reported in the media, according to a survey carried out by the TNS Slovakia agency that was released on March 16, the TASR newswire reported.
Rusko comments on sale of PPC to Penta
The former economy minister from 2003 to 2005, Pavol Rusko, denied at a press conference on March 19 that he had committed fraud in the sale of state-owned energy producer Combined Cycle (PPC) to the Penta financial group in 2004. Rusko said he is preparing a legal complaint against the police action and called on Special Prosecutor Dušan Kováčik to intervene against what he called "injustice". The privatisation of PPC began in January 2004 when the government decided that the entire package of PPC shares would be sold. At the time, 90 percent of its shares were held by the National Property Fund (FNM) while 10 percent were in the possession of FNM via electricity producer Slovenské Elektrárne. The smaller package could be sold only with the agreement of the Economy Ministry. Rusko said the latter shares were not sold at that time. Rusko says the FNM-held package was sold following an agreement between the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) and Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) nominees on FNM's decision-making body. Rusko later told the government that he would not comply with the government's decision to sell 100 percent of the shares. The government commissioned him with preparing an analysis on why he did not sell the shares. The analysis, submitted to the government in April of that year, stated that the sale was disadvantageous. Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda (SDKÚ) then proposed that the analysis should be withdrawn.
Launch of UNITAS project will be delayed
It will not be possible to launch the unified collection of taxes, custom payments and payroll levies, the so-called UNITAS project, by the Financial Administration as of January 1 2013 as originally planned, the TASR newswire was told by Jozef Kollár, the head of the Financial Administration’s oversight committee from Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party, on March 19. "We learned from IBM (the new tax administration software provider) that when it comes to processes and organisation at Financial Administration, it won't be possible," said Kollár.
Most-Hid’s Bugár says opposition will agree on parliamentary vice-chair
Most-Híd chairman Béla Bugár announced on March 19 that his party is ready to support a candidate for the post of parliamentary vice-chair that will emerge from an agreement between the opposition parties. "The wiser one retreats," said Bugár as quoted by the TASR newswire. Bugár last week disputed the issue with Igor Matovič from the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) party. Future Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) had announced that the opposition would get two parliamentary vice-chair posts. There was no dispute about one post going to the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) which had the second largest number of votes after Smer in the election on March 10 but Bugár had expressed his interest in the second post even though Most-Híd had less votes than OĽaNO. Matovič had described Bugár as a rude person who had started cooperation with other opposition parties by reaching an agreement with Fico on getting the post. Bugár responded that Matovič used lying as his mode of work and that Most-Híd would not help him with his what he called “pub politics”, adding that he was interested in the post because of his experience.
No opposition consensus on who will take deputy-speaker posts
The two parliamentary deputy-speaker posts as well as several parliamentary committee chairmanships offered to the opposition parties by Smer following its victory in the March 10 general election remained unfilled after a meeting of the five parties on Friday, March 16, failed to reach consensus, outgoing Speaker of Parliament Pavol Hrušovský (Christian Democratic Movement (KDH)) said at a press conference.
SACR: 10 percent more foreign tourists visited Slovakia in 2011
Slovakia was visited by 10 percent more foreign tourists in 2011 than in 2010, Slovak Tourist Board (SACR) PR manager Zuzana Nemcová announced, as reported by the TASR newswire. The 10-percent increase was higher than that experienced by neighbouring countries, with the Czech Republic in 2011 attracting 7.9 percent more tourists, Hungary 7.8 percent and Poland 6 percent more.
Kollár replaced by Visolajský as head of LOZ doctors' union
The Doctors’ Trade Union Association (LOZ) elected Peter Visolajský from Nitra Faculty Hospital as its new chairman at a congress held on Friday and Saturday, March 16 and 17. Visolajsky replaced Marian Kollár, who did not run for re-election, while Ján Sýkora, Pavol Oravec and Michal Polician remained LOZ' vice-chairs, the TASR newswire reported.
Right-wing extremists rally at Krásna Hôrka and in Bratislava
Right-wing nationalists led by Marian Kotleba, leader of the People's Party – Our Slovakia party (ĽS-NS), held a rally near fire-damaged Krásna Hôrka Castle on Sunday, March 18, but police did not have to intervene, Košice regional police spokesperson Jana Mesárová said the same day, as reported by the TASR newswire on the same day.
Institutions and organisations involved in investment in Slovakia
Ministry of Economywww.economy.gov.sk
Growth at Volkswagen helps Slovakia maintain its strong car production role
2011 WAS a successful year for Volkswagen Slovakia (VW SK), the Slovak arm of the biggest car producer in Europe. Last year 210,441 cars rolled off the production lines at VW SK’s Bratislava plant, representing a year-on-year increase of 45.6 percent. Its turnover rose 28.5 percent to €5.2 billion and its profit after taxation jumped by 80 percent to €135 million.
24 women win seats in parliament
THE NUMBER of women elected to parliament on March 10 was 24 – only one more than the 23 female MPs elected in 2010. Women will constitute 16 percent of the new parliament, the TASR newswire reported.
Police record 7 election complaints
THE POLICE have received seven complaints concerning alleged electoral violations related to the general election, Police Corps spokesperson Denisa Baloghová told the TASR newswire on March 12.“The Office for the Fight Against Corruption has taken action in all cases,” said Baloghová.
Protesters set up new organisation
THE ORGANISERS of the so-called Gorilla Protests, whose main aim is to fight against high-level political corruption, have established a new civic initiative called ‘Protest Gorilla’, which will focus on promoting their views and organising public debate. The founders of the new organisation also want to recruit new members and create a team of experts, the TASR newswire reported.
Dzurinda finally bows out
“IT WOULD not help if I were to step down from the position of election leader,” Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) chairman Mikuláš Dzurinda said a couple of days before the parliamentary elections, in response to a question by a reporter from the Sme daily about the declining popularity of his party.
Drawing FDI to Slovakia
SLOVAKIA is a small country with a highly open economy competing for foreign investments with its neighbours. Its status as the only ex-communist central European country, aside from Slovenia, to have adopted the European single currency, as well as its predictable business environment and advantageous location in the middle of Europe, makes Slovakia an interesting destination for foreign direct investment (FDI).
Chambers set out priorities
THE NEW Slovak government should engage in open and effective dialogue with businesses and incorporate their interests into the preparation of its agenda, according to the list of priorities presented by 13 chambers of commerce operating in Slovakia. The chambers introduced seven basic points which were topped by education, the TASR newswire reported.
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- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- UK appoints Bilal Zahid as new ambassador to Slovakia
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
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- 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
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- 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
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- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- 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
- The compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
- 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 ›
