Archive of articles - September 2014, page 3
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Combating tax evasion
TAX cobra and VAT ledger statements are the most commonly cited measures adopted to combat tax evasion and avoidance, and they are already starting to get results. These are part of a series of measures adopted by the Finance Ministry, for which fighting tax evasion has become a major priority.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
Testing of Hungarian pipeline delayed
WHILE the testing of the gas pipeline interconnection between the transmission systems of Slovakia and Hungary will be delayed, its commercial operation should be launched as planned as of the beginning of next year, the SITA newswire reported on September 22.
Kiska: UN must not relinquish its purpose
THE UN was established after World War II with an aim to prevent military conflicts and ensure territorial integrity for countries around the world, President Andrej Kiska said during his speech to the UN General Assembly September 25. Currently, when there are conflicts erupting in a number of regions – including with Slovakia’s eastern neighbour Ukraine – the issue of how the UN is capable of following through with this needs to be discussed, he continued.
Kiska: V4 should consider joint representation in Silicon Valley
PRESIDENT Andrej Kiska who is paying an official visit to the United States is searching for potential investors for Slovak start-ups. He is accompanied by US Ambassador to Slovakia Theodore Sedgwick, private broadcaster TV JOJ reported on September 25.
Slovak soldiers to train Ukrainian mine clearing units
SLOVAK soldiers will train Ukrainian mine clearing units as part of assistance to Ukraine, said Slovak Defense Minister Martin Glváč after meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Valeriy Heletey, the TASR newswire reported on September 25.
Referendum on constitutional definition of family has a chance
MORE than 45 percent of people would go to the ballot boxes if the referendum, initiated by The Family Alliance (AZR), concerning the constitutional definition and protection of family took place. However, such referendums only take effect if if more than half of the voters attend the vote.
Right-leaning parties continue to struggle
SLOVAKIA’S right wing parties continue to grapple with internal problems, weakening their ability to challenge the ruling Smer as well as confusing many of their own voters. Still, most of their supporters remain unlikely to shift loyalties to Prime Minister Robert Fico and Smer, experts say.
Extraordinary parliamentary session over discarded opposition bills ends in failure
The extraordinary parliamentary session called for by the opposition to discuss a host of its bills discarded from the parliamentary agenda by the ruling Smer party took place on September 25; as Smer gave its consent to the programme. Five motions made it to the agenda, mostly sponsored by the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH): the proposed rule of a single mandate in order to prevent lawmakers from simultaneously serving as mayors or governors and thus enjoying multiple salaries; an amendment designed to ban lawmakers from simultaneously practising law; and the proposal to introduce two-round elections for mayors. Two weeks ago, Smer discarded 10 opposition motions from the agenda, with head of Smer caucus Jana Laššáková claiming that they form part of opposition’s election campaign before the upcoming municipal election, slated for November 15. The opposition strongly protested and since that time has decided to withdraw all of its bills and has been boycotting parliamentary votes.
Labour Minister to face no-confidence vote
Labour, Social Affairs and Family Minister Ján Richter will face a no-confidence vote in parliament, with the extraordinary session initiated by independent MP Alojz Hlina and opposition lawmakers.
Memorandum of research cooperation signed by V4 and Japan
Aiming to boost development and cooperation within research, representatives of research organisations from the Visegrad Four countries (Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland) and Japan signed a memorandum on cooperation at the Japanese Embassy in Bratislava on September 23 afternoon. The signatories of the document – representatives of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), the Czech Education, Youth and Physical Education Ministry, the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund, Poland’s National Centre for Research and Development, Japan’s Science and Technology Development Agency and the International Visegrad Fund –stated that by signing the memorandum, they have laid the foundations for joint research projects and opened the door to new opportunities within the field of scientific cooperation. SAV Chairman Jaromír Pastorek told the TASR newswire that the idea of launching cooperation with Japanese researchers originated in Slovakia. “Science can’t function without partnerships, and it’s a big advantage to work with the best, he said, adding that although the Japanese agreed to the move, they asked for even further cooperation that would include the other Visegrad Four countries. Visegrad Fund Executive Director Karla Wursterová told TASR that this is a historic moment because the negotiations that preceded the signing of the memorandum took years. “It will be most vital now to implement meaningful projects that will have a real impact and will contribute towards disseminating and boosting science in these countries,” she said, according to TASR.
Ministers approve draft amendment to Financial Market Supervision Act
Consumers on the financial market should receive better protection, according to the draft amendment to the Financial Market Supervision Act that the Slovak government approved on September 24.
Brussels unblocks four of nine operational programmes
THE EUROPEAN Commission (EC) will unblock four of nine operation programmes, based on the presented results and its own verification. It will release together €102 million, only about one third of the sum that is currently blocked, the Sme daily reported in its September 25 issue.
CC will deal with the referendum questions
THE CONSTITUTIONAL Court (CC) has accepted the motion of President Andrej Kiska to check the constitutionality of four questions of the referendum prepared by the Alliance for Family (AZR), the SITA newswire reported on September 24.
Parliament approves NKÚ inspection SE
THE SUPREME Audit Office (NKÚ) will scrutinise the management with financial resources in Slovenské Elektrárne (SE), country’s dominant electricity producer, based on the approval passed by the parliament on September 24.
Police launch investigation of Procházka’s campaign financing
POLICE launched criminal prosecution concerning tax evasion based on an audio recording of a private conversation between Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) leader Igor Matovič and then-presidential candidate Radoslav Procházka (Sieť), the TASR newswire reported on September 24.
Penta mulls Petit Press purchase
FINANCIERS from the Penta investment group have apparently decided to go into the media business, and the Petit Press publishing house is reportedly their next potential catch. This has provoked concerns within the publishing house, but also among transparency watchdogs.
100
ANDREJ Kiska’s spokesman Peter Petrus gave his boss a nice gift to celebrate his first 100 days as head of state – he quit. And there are rumours that other shifts in the president’s inner circle are occurring. But save for these small personal turbulences, Kiska has had a good start, especially in the key areas.
Parliament passes resolution on Ukraine without appeal to Russia
THE RULING Smer party stopped short of calling on Russia to end the aggression in Ukraine in a resolution passed by parliament over the ongoing conflict there. Omitted from the final text of the resolution was a sentence that read “parliament specifically calls on the Russian Federation not to interfere in the domestic affairs of Ukraine, not to provide military aid to militants, and to respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and use all of its influence to achieve a de-escalation of the conflict”, the SITA newswire reported on September 24.
State seeking €200 million from Enel
THE STATE will ask Enel to pay €200 million that it owes for privatising the electricity producer Slovenské Elektrárne (SE). The reason is that financial commitments and receivables between the state and the Italian firm, which owns a 66 percent share in SE, have still not been settled, the TASR newswire reported on September 23.
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- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Paris leads, Bratislava trails: European cities ranked on safe travel for children
- 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
- 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
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- 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 ›
