Archive of articles - June 2014, page 14
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Corporate responsibility is new norm
FOR WINNERS of Via Bona awards for corporate social responsibility, obtaining the award was primarily encouragement for them to keep up their work and perhaps go even further. The Slovak Spectator spoke with representatives of last three years’ winners of the main Via Bona awards for corporate responsibility for large and small- and medium-sized companies about how corporate responsibility and the approach of companies have changed over the years. The respondents included Jana Burdová, spokeswoman for Slovenské Elektrárne; Gabriela Vlková, spokeswoman of Embraco in Spišská Nová Ves; Eva Hipšová, the spokeswoman for ABB; Boris Peško, the spokesman for the energy distributor Východoslovenská Energetika (VSE); and Martin Štrba, director of the e-shop at Martinus.sk.
State now lone SPP stakeholder
“PEOPLE do not have to worry that gas prices will rise,” Prime Minister Robert Fico said after the state became the sole shareholder of Slovakia’s gas giant, Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel (SPP).Formally, the process of purchasing the 49-percent share and managerial control from the Czech company Energetický a Průmyslový Holding (EPH) was wrapped up at the June 4 general assembly of the SPP, which approved personnel changes to the top bodies of the strategic company.
Gašparovič to attend inauguration of new Ukrainian president
SLOVAK President Ivan Gašparovič, together with Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák, will attend the inauguration of Ukraine’s new president Petro Poroshenko on June 7, the TASR newswire reported.
Matovič passes lie detector test
LEADER of the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) Igor Matovič underwent testing on the lie detector and passed. The testing took place following a press conference on June 2 where Matovič claimed that chairman of the new party Sieť (Network) and unsuccessful presidential candidate Radoslav Procházka attempted to purchase campaign ads under the counter in an advertisement newspaper published by Matovič’s family.
Kiska invites NGO representatives to his inauguration
PRESIDENT-elect Andrej Kiska has already sent out invitations for his inauguration ceremony on June 15. Apart from the ceremony itself and an ecumenical mass, there will be a formal reception dinner, to which non-governmental organisations and citizens awarded for civic bravery and integrity are invited, the Sme daily reported in its June 6 issue.
Cargo sells wagons to Swiss firm
SWISS company Ahaus Alstatter Eisenbahn Cargo (AAE) won the competition over the purchase of a 66-percent stake in Cargo Wagon, a subsidiary of the state-run railway freight carrier Cargo. The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party criticised the sale, calling it an example of how Smer harms Slovakia.
Slovakia wins another arbitration proceeding
THE ARBITRATION tribunal dismissed a lawsuit submitted by Austrian company European American Investment (Euram) Bank against Slovakia. The Austrian firm is a shareholder of former private health insurer Apollo. It sought from Slovakia more than €131 million in compensation for damages caused by the ban on private health insurer profits, which the first government of Robert Fico passed in 2007.
Average salary measured at €821 per month in Q1 2014
THE AVERAGE nominal monthly salary reached €821 in the first quarter of 2014, with the pace of growth accelerating by 1.6 percentage points to 4.1 percent year-on-year, the Slovak Statistics Office (ŠÚ) reported on June 4.
Government approves Slovakia’s V4 presidency programme
PLEDGING to build on the achievements of the previous presidencies, Slovakia will take over the leadership of the Visegrad Four Group (Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia) from Hungary on July 1, observing the draft programme of Slovakia’s V4 presidency that was approved by the government on June 4.
Poll: Sieť would take 24.6 percent of OĽaNO’s 2012 voters
THE EMERGING Sieť (i.e. Network) party started by Radoslav Procházka would take 24.6 percent of Ordinary People and Independent Personalities’ (OĽaNO) voters who supported the latter party in the 2012 general election. This stems from a public opinion poll conducted by the Polis Slovakia agency for the SITA newswire. Sieť would also take about 13.9 percent of voters of the ruling Smer party and 10 percent of the opposition Christian-Democratic Movement’s (KDH) support.
GP Čižnár ends investigation of emissions sale, finds no crime
GENERAL Prosecutor Jaromír Čižnár on June 2 closed the investigation of the protracted case of the sale of CO2 emissions quotas by the previous Robert Fico government to US-based company Interblue Group, finding that the sale did not constitute a crime.
Slovakia’s GDP rose by 2.4 percent y/y in 1Q 2014
SLOVAKIA’S GDP in the first quarter of 2014 increased by 2.4 percent year-on-year, meaning that economic growth accelerated by 1.9 percentage points in annual terms, according to data released by the Slovak Statistics Office (ŠÚ) on June 4. In comparison to the previous quarter and after seasonal effects are taken into account, GDP in the first quarter increased by 0.6 percent, the TASR newswire reported, quoting the šÚ.
Unemployment rate in Q1 down to 14.1 percent
SLOVAKIA’S unemployment rate dropped in the first quarter of this year by 0.4 percentage points from a year ago to 14.1 percent. The Slovak Statistics Office (ŠÚ) informed about the results based on labour force surveys.
State acquires full control of SPP
THE STATE acquired a 100-percent share in gas utility Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel (SPP) on June 4, Prime Minister Robert Fico told a press conference, adding that the change in ownership occurred following SPP’s general meeting at 10:00.
Parliament passes judiciary reform, traditional marriage provision
THE MUCH-DISCUSSED constitutional amendment introducing fundamental changes to the judiciary as well as the official protection of so-called traditional marriage was passed by the Slovak Parliament on June 4.
1968
YOU could almost hear the sigh of relief. Children all across the country took to the streets to celebrate the fact that their families will now finally be protected by the constitution. Replacing the words “Marriage, parenthood and the family are protected by the law” with the phrase “Marriage is a unique union between a man and a woman. The Slovak Republic protects and supports marriage in all aspects” seems like an incredibly small step for broken families, neglected children, or single moms, but judging by the ecstatic reactions of local conservatives, it is a giant leap for traditional values.
Insiders and outsiders
FEW have ever thought that Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government is exceedingly minority-friendly or that it is making Slovakia more open to diversity. However, the latest quirky political matrimony between the ruling Smer, a self-declared social democratic party, with the conservative Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), leaves very little doubt about the attitude of Slovakia’s government and part of the opposition towards minorities or the concept of a modern diverse society in general.
UPDATED: Slovakia amends its constitution
BORN from a peculiar union between the ruling Smer and the opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), a revision to the country’s constitution sailed through parliament on June 4, defining marriage as a “unique bond between a man and a woman” and introducing the ruling party’s remedies for the judiciary, including the disputed clearances for judges. LGBTI activists intend to challenge the legislation with the Constitutional Court.
Proposal could prevent Supreme Court president from automatically becoming Judicial Council chair
THE PRESIDENT of the Supreme Court will probably not become a member of the Judicial Council automatically, based on an amending proposal to the joint constitutional amendment that parliament is currently debating, tabled by the head of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) Ján Figeľ.
Spanish father wins case against Slovakia at ECHR
SLOVAKIA has lost an international case concerning child abduction at the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR).
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- 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 ›
