Archive of articles - November 2013, page 3
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'Putting responsibility where it belongs'
COUNTRIES should not be over-ambitious when it comes to their presidency at the Council of the European Union, but they need to prepare well ahead for the tasks they want to accomplish, said Richard van Rijssen, the ambassador of the Netherlands to Slovakia, who has already experienced four presidencies in diplomatic positions. His homeland will preside over the EU for the 13th time in 2016, the same year as Slovakia, for the first time. The Dutch ambassador suggests that the discourse around the presidency should also involve debating “what is really necessary that we do at the European level and what we can do at the national level”.
More Slovak car exports expected
BELGIUM is Slovakia’s 12th biggest export market. Based on the Global Slovakia database, 985 companies in Slovakia export goods to Belgium, according to Ján Tyrala from the Slovak Economy Ministry.
Belgium: General facts
Political system: Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchyCapital: BrusselsTotal area: 30,528 square kilometresPopulation: 10.4 millionOfficial languages: French, Dutch, German Currency: euro
Ethnic-driven campaign is wrong way forward
ELECTION campaigns often unleash the basest political instincts. When observers assumed that in this year’s elections to the eight self-governing regions that attempts to mobilise voters based on ethnicity would be avoided, they were wrong. Traditionally, Nitra has been the region where “wide-Slovak coalitions” emerged in several elections to unite parties across the political spectrum in an attempt to weaken the election chances of ethnic Hungarian candidates.
Bratislava gets first dog park
THE OLD TOWN borough of Bratislava opened the first dog park in the Slovak capital. The borough administration fenced off the already existing dog run on Poľná Street and added canine agility equipment, like hurdles, a tunnel, a swing, slalom poles and a hoop to jump through.
Historical belfry in Košice gets new bell
KOŠICE’S stint as the 2013 European Capital of Culture (ECOC) will be commemorated through a new bronze bell weighing 38 kilograms, installed in a historical belfry on November 14 at the local Eastern-Slovak Museum.
White Crows awarded
THOUGH it is not easy to report corruption in Slovakia, partly because of a lack of laws protecting whistle-blowers, there are those who still take the risk, like teacher Vladimír Crmoman, who learned about wasteful spending at the Education Ministry on flowers, alcohol and car servicing, and got the authorities to deal with the problem by publishing the information in the media.
Štefánik returns from abroad
THE ARMOURED train Štefánik returned to Slovakia in September after spending six months on a trip to the Netherlands. The Museum of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) lent the train for the exhibition Flags in War, which presented several military trains in Utrecht.
Obama meets Fico in White House
PRIME Minister Robert Fico met with US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in Washington on November 21.
Our Experience is Your Solution
How would you characterise your company for The Slovak Spectator readers?We are a local law firm. We have operated in the law market for 10 years already, comprised of experienced attorneys who gained experience abroad and after returning to Slovakia decided to build their own firm. In rankings of law companies, we usually take the top positions. We offer complex consultancy to entrepreneurs within commercial law – not only in Slovakia but also in the Czech Republic.
Glossary: Cultural heritage list extended
Spectator College provides readers of The Slovak Spectator who are trying to improve their English with glossaries of useful and frequently used words and expressions from stories published as part of the Spectator College as well as in the rest of the newspaper. As well as this special glossary, which relates to the article Cultural heritage list extended, you can find more expressions in our Glossary for politics & business or in the List of names of institutions in English and Slovak.
Exercise: Cultural heritage list extended
This exercise is linked to the article: Cultural heritage list extended.
Kiev ballet visits Slovakia
THE RENOWNED Kiev City Ballet (Kyjevský Balet) is conducting its first ever tour of Slovakia. The ensemble is part of the Kiev City Academic Theatre for Children and Youth, which was founded in 1982 by prominent musicians.
Trade growth slow but steady
THE NETHERLANDS remains one of Slovakia’s key economic partners even though the economic crisis in recent years has not left bilateral cooperation unaffected. While bilateral trade continues growing, investors are being more careful about where they invest. Dutch investors like Slovakia for its cheap and qualified labour force, low taxes, central location, political stability and eurozone membership.
More than mills
FOR SOME, Dutch culture might evoke images of old paintings, windmills, cheese-based cuisine and, perhaps for younger generations, the music of prominent DJ Armin van Buuren. However, the cultural and artistic scene in the Netherlands encompasses much more, and Slovaks are able to get a good sampling of it.
Harabin wins €25,000 in damages
THE GENERAL Prosecutor’s Office has to pay €25,000 in damages to Supreme Court President Štefan Harabin, the court ruled.
President vetoes collective bargaining law
CRITICS of the controversial Smer-designed revision to the law on collective bargaining scored a small victory after President Ivan Gašparovič vetoed the legislation, which would empower unions and employee groups to enforce pay hikes even in firms that have not agreed to such salaries. The legislation, which sailed through parliament on October 29, angered foreign chambers of commerce, employers and the political opposition.
Investment interest from Belgium up
THERE are already over 160 companies with Belgian capital in Slovakia, while last year saw an increase in interest among Belgian investors in Slovakia. They see Slovakia as a reliable business partner benefitting from a stable economy, the euro and a skilled workforce, as well as labour costs that are significantly lower than in Belgium.
Ukraine to get gas through Slovakia
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU) unblocked an agreement on gas supplies to Ukraine from Europe allowing the supply of natural gas to Ukraine through Slovakia, which could reduce Ukraine’s dependence on Russian natural gas. Russia is the largest supplier of gas to Ukraine.
Comenius University gets silver in world logic competition
THE BRATISLAVA-BASED Comenius University (UK) can boast of a global success: it earned silver in the category of students under 18 at the 22nd World Puzzle Championship, which took place between October 12 and 19 in Beijing.
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- 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
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Last Week: Slovakia’s central bank governor still faces bribery case verdict
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- Show me your moves! Slovak hockey stars share their best pick-up lines
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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 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 ›
