Archive of articles - October 2012, page 12

Conference on the Future of Education in Slovakia

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Survey finds growing risk of poverty

SEVERAL Slovak politicians appearing lately on TV talk shows have been confronted with the question: “Would you be able to live on €300 a month?” The question came on the heels of a European Union survey, which suggested that 700,000 Slovaks, or 13 percent of the population, were at risk of poverty in 2011. Compared to 2010, the number people living on the edge of poverty – defined as less than €3,784 per year, or just over €315 per month – had grown by approximately 50,000, according to the EU’s Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) survey. The survey was published by the Slovak Statistics Office on October 2.

Professionals in TRANSPORT

Slovak historic hotel awarded ‘most romantic’ accolade

Hotel Chateau Béla has been declared the ‘Most Romantic Historic Hotel in Europe’ in a competition organised by Historic Hotels of Europe, an organisation based in Paris. The decision was made at the organisation’s annual meeting in Dublin on October 9.

Economy Ministry: State doesn’t have enough money to buy SPP stake

The Economy Ministry doesn’t view as feasible a proposal that the Slovak government exercise its right of first refusal to buy the 49 percent of the gas utility SPP that is currently being sold by E.ON Ruhrgas and GdF Suez, according to an analysis presented to the cabinet on Wednesday, October 10. The state already owns a 51-percent stake.

EPP president Wilfried Martens calls for unity among right-wing parties

Slovakia’s opposition parties should put up a single presidential candidate and also engage in closer co-operation in the 2013 municipal elections, Wilfried Martens, president of the European People's Party (EPP), said after a meeting with Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) leader Pavol Frešo in Brussels on Wednesday, October 10. The EPP is a European-level umbrella group of parties on the right of the political spectrum, including the SDKÚ.

Water to be restored to Lunik IX neighbourhood; local Roma still unhappy

The drinking water supply to the troubled Roma neighbourhood Lunik IX in Košice is to be turned back on, the TASR newswire learnt reported, citing Košice City councillor and co-ordinator for Lunik IX Miloš Ihnát, on Wednesday, October 10. The supply system was shut down after pipes in Roma households were stolen.

Government approves 2013 state budget, deficit to reach €3.06 billion

The state budget deficit should fall by €616 million year-on-year to €3.059 billion in 2013, according to the draft budget approved by the government on Wednesday, October 10. Revenue is predicted to be €14.177 billion, €552 million up on 2012. Conversely, expenditure is projected to stand at €17.235 billion, a fall of €65 million year-on-year, the TASR newswire wrote.

Judges should lose criminal immunity by end of year

The criminal immunity of judges looks set to be scrapped by the end of 2012, with Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paška having already broached the issue with judges, governing Smer party caucus head Jana Laššáková said after a session of a parliamentary all-party panel on Wednesday, October 10.

Election of NKÚ chair postponed to later parliamentary session

A parliamentary vote to select the next head of the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) will be postponed until the last parliament session of this year, in November, according to Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) caucus chairman Jozef Viskupič, who was speaking after a meeting of a parliamentary all-party panel on Wednesday, October 10.

Richter: Minimum wage to go up at least on par with average salary

It would be very wrong for the minimum wage in Slovakia to fall below 40 percent of the average salary in the future, Labour Minister Ján Richter said on Wednesday, October 10.

Bonaparte

IF THERE is one reason why Robert Fico is rarely compared to Napoleon, it’s probably that he is somewhat taller. But his decision to move to the luxurious Bonaparte apartment complex highlights that there are more similarities between the two than the obvious ambition, shrewdness, and high intellect.

2013 budget sails through cabinet

“ABSOLUTELY realistic” is how Prime Minister Robert Fico described the draft state budget that his cabinet sent to the Slovak Parliament on October 10, adding that it guarantees Slovakia a position at the core of the eurozone. The government will attempt to keep the budget deficit under 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) despite a gloomier-than-expected prediction that the state will collect €233 million less in tax and payroll tax revenues next year.

Slovak opposition will bring wiretapping law to Constitutional Court

Thirty opposition MPs will file a complaint with the Slovak Constitutional Court over the law on electronic communications. In line with this piece of legislation, operators have to store data on communication for several months, the Sme daily wrote in its Wednesday, October 10, issue.

Industrial production grew in August at slower rate

The growth of industrial production in Slovakia reached 17 percent year-on-year in August, while it stood at 18.4 percent in July, the Slovak Statistics Office announced on Tuesday, October 9.

Slovakia supports financial transaction tax

Four more EU member states – including Slovakia – have expressed support for the introduction of the EU financial transaction tax (FTT) at the session of the EU finance ministers (Ecofin) in Luxembourg on Tuesday, October 9. Slovakia was represented at the session by Finance Minister Peter Kažimír, the TASR newswire wrote.

OSCE High Commissioner for Minorities Knut Vollebaek visits Slovakia

Language legislation and the Citizenship Act will be among the topics discussed between representatives of the Slovak government and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek said, who will be visiting Slovakia until Thursday, October 11.

Slovakia allows Czech spirits to go back on sale

Slovakia officially halted its ban on the import and sale of Czech spirits containing more than 20 percent alcohol at 17:00 on October 9. Slovak stores and pubs will now be able to sell Czech-made liquor under strict conditions defined by an expert commission, whose members will be appointed by various ministries. The conditions will ensure that consumers are properly informed of the origin of the spirit they buy, the TASR newswire reported.

Finance Ministry offers teachers 5-percent pay rise

Teachers’ pay could rise by 5 percent, according to a proposal prepared by Finance Minister Peter Kažimír which was discussed at a meeting with education trade unions and representatives of several ministries. However, trade unionists said that they did not accept the offer, adding that they would discuss it at a meeting of their union council planned for October 15, the SITA newswire reported.