Archive of articles - October 2012, page 13
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Draft 2013 budget indicates rises in both revenue and expenditure
Slovakia’s state budget deficit might reach €3.06 billion next year, according to the initial draft budget for 2013. Revenue is projected to reach €14.18 billion, while expenditure is expected to hit €17.24 billion, the TASR newswire reported.
IMF predicts higher growth for Slovakia
The global economy should grow at a relatively slow pace this year as well as next, according to the latest prognosis of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, one exception will be Slovakia, which should enjoy one of the highest growth rates in the eurozone, the SITA newswire reported on October 9.
Statistics: Lowest unemployment rate among young people in August
The lowest number of unemployed people in Slovakia was recorded among the youngest category of 15-24 years old, with 73,438 people out of the total of 398,365 unemployed Slovaks included in this category as of August, it emerged from the recently released statistics carried out by the Social Affairs and Family Centre (ÚPSVaR).
Salaries in public service will remain flat in 2013
The Labour Ministry and the Finance Ministry on Monday, October 8, announced to trade unions that there will be no across-the-board increases in the salaries of employees in state and public service in 2013.
Minister Počiatek shelves Bratislava railway project
The project of an underground railway line between the stations Bratislava-Predmestie and Filiálka will not be carried out in the current EU-funds programming period, Transport Minister Ján Počiatek decided. He made the decision based on the results of a feasibility study of the Bratislava Integrated Transport System, prepared by independent experts at the request of the European Commission and technical experts of the European Union.
Committee failed to support new powers of parliament related to ESM
The Parliamentary Committee for EU Affairs has not supported new powers for MPs related to the decision-making process concerning the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) issues. The draft signed by 30 opposition deputies should bind the representative of Slovakia in the ESM with a decision of the Parliament in the vote over increasing funds in the ESM from private resources, known as leveraging.
Health Policy Institute files petition against unitary insurance system
The Government is dealing with an illusory problem concerning the number of health insurers, as the real problem is the people's unawareness of specific rights related to their insurance, Health Policy Institute (HPI) chief Peter Pažitný said after HPI submitted a petition against the establishment of a unitary system of health insurance to the government on Monday, October 8.
City of Košice tears down Roma apartment building
Bulldozers on Monday, October 8, afternoon began demolishing a heavily damaged apartment building at the notorious Roma borough of Lunik IX in Kosice, with thousands of rubberneckers watching the scene. No riots took place, however, the TASR newswire learnt.
Ministries finally agree on investment aid applications
The Slovak Economy Ministry and Finance Ministry have finally agreed on providing investment incentives to companies Mondi SCP and Samsung. Finance Minister Peter Kažimír said last week he would try to delay these investment incentives until later, as next year he wants to focus on the consolidation of public finances.
Bihariová: Pollák's Roma reform only placates public demand
The ten pillars of the Roma reform package introduced by the new government proxy for Roma, Peter Pollák, earlier in September are politically motivated and designed to mollify the emotional state of mind of the public, said Iveta Bihariová of People against Racism during a meeting of NGOs, Roma activists and politicians organised by Pollák on Monday, October 8.
Andrej Danko becomes new chair of SNS
The Slovak National Party (SNS) has a new leader after 153 of 156 delegates present at the meeting of the party in Žilina elected Andrej Danko to the post. Danko will succeed Ján Slota who announced his departure after the March general elections in which the party received only 4.55 percent of the vote, and thus did not make it into the parliament, the SITA newswire reported on October 6.
Financiers entered the NCHZ
Well-known Slovak financier Mário Hoffmann might get back the millions that he had invested into the Novácke Chemické Závody (NCHZ) chemical plant. After the company had to pay a fine from Brussels and go through the biggest bankruptcy proceeding in the history of independent Slovakia, Hoffmann, together with J&T financial group, allegedly got some shares in the company, the Hospodárske Noviny daily reported on October 8.
Representatives of EU countries met in Bratislava to discuss the budget
Representatives of all 16 countries participating in the EU Friends of Cohesion summit, which took place in Bratislava on October 5, signed a joint declaration, which agrees with the proposed European Commission budget for 2014-20. Yet, they also declared that there is no scope for further cuts in the means allocated on cohesion purposes, the TASR newswire reported.
About 100 people joined protest against seizures of children by UK authorities
Some 100 people attended a protest against the seizures of children who have been taken into foster care by UK officials, which took place in front of the Presidential Palace in Bratislava. The protestors sought to bring attention to alleged inactivity of the Slovak authorities over the matter, the TASR newswire reported on October 6.
Industry associations and websites
Slovak Gas and Oil Association,www.sgoa.sk vSlovak Association of of Photovoltaic Industry (SAPI),www.sapi.sk Biomasa,www.biomasa.sk
State aid decision delayed again
IT SEEMS that nine companies backed by foreign investors will have to wait rather longer for a final decision by the government about whether to give them aid amounting to about €101 million in the form of tax relief. The Economy Ministry has, for a second time, withdrawn from a cabinet session its proposal to provide the firms with aid, and now the Finance Ministry has suggested postponing any aid for a year or more, citing the need to relieve pressure on the state budget.
Slovaks less economically optimistic
ECONOMIC sentiment in Slovakia continued falling for the fourth consecutive month in September, when it reached 87.8 points, one point lower than the previous month and the lowest rate since March 2010, the SITA newswire reported.
Slovakia faces the challenges of smart grids
THE WHOLE world has become used to the convenience of electricity: by merely plugging in we can turn on lights, computers, heaters, cookers as well as car production lines or aluminium smelters. But behind each power switch is a complex system of electricity generators, operators of transmission and distribution networks and power suppliers which, because of one of the main characteristics of electricity – it cannot be easily or cheaply stored – have to coordinate very precisely their operations in order to have just enough electricity to satisfy the minute-to-minute demands of consumers at the very end of the chain.
Rare fresco discovered in castle cathedral in Nitra will be accessible only temporarily
A rare fresco, accidentally discovered during the reconstruction of the St Emeram’s Cathedral at Nitra Castle, will be made accessible to the public – but only temporarily.
Tax shortfall creates fiscal headache
THE STATE will have to fill a gap of €233 million caused by weaker-than-predicted tax revenues if it wants to push the public finance deficit under 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013, as required by Slovakia’s EU obligations. The Finance Ministry’s Financial Policy Institute (IFP) has scaled down its previous estimates for tax and payroll tax revenues for 2012 and 2013 by approximately 0.2 percent and 0.3 percent of the GDP, respectively, “without considering the positive impacts of the consolidation package on part of the revenues”.
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- Liberal MP’s boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
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- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
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- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- 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
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- 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
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Zdeno Chára inducted into world hockey hall of fame Video
- Liberal MP’s boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- 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 More articles ›
