Archive of articles - October 2014, page 11
If you desire to read an old article, use the search bar or select the publication date.
Slovakia chases energy efficiency
THE CHEAPEST energy is that which does not need to be generated. But reduction of its consumption or increasing energy efficiency has a price tag too, with benefits that may not come until down the road. Buildings offer the biggest opportunity for reducing energy consumption. And while Slovakia is late in transposing the related EU legislation, it has prepared its third Action Plan of Energy Efficiency setting targets for years to come.
Picture of Dorian Gray
PEOPLE who cannot be intoxicated by PR-pieces masked as journalism and aim for news that shows the true reflection of political Dorian Grays in the mirror, usually make well-informed decisions in their support for or opposition to politicians, public figures or even products.
Approval of Energy Policy delayed
THE CABINET has still not dealt with the draft of the new long-term Energy Policy of the Slovak Republic, although the Economy Ministry has submitted the material to the Cabinet Office already in late May. The Economy Ministry sees the political situation between Ukraine and Russia as responsible for the delay in approving the new energy policy.
ECHR rules in Cervanová case
SLOVAK courts did not err in renewing the Cervanová case, the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights ruled.
Elektrárňa opened
AFTER demanding reconstruction, the former power generating facility known as Elektrárňa in Piešťany opened to the general public in early September. It will serve as a museum, an interactive centre of science and technologies, as well as holding cultural and social events. Regional energy distributor Západoslovenská Energetika (ZSE), which is the owner of the facility, started its reconstruction in 2009.
Ban on segregation walls possible
SEGREGATION walls could be classified as illegal constructions, according to a draft of the Construction Act amendment proposed by the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development.
Čentéš’ case closer to the end
AFTER three years, the Constitutional Court (CC) is closer to the decision on the complaint of Jozef Čentéš whom the then-president Ivan Gašparovič refused to appoint to the General Prosecutor post, even though he was lawfully elected to the post.
Firms complain about rising electricity prices
COMPANIES in Slovakia insist high electricity prices make them uncompetitive when compared with those abroad. While waiting for a proposal by the Economy Ministry about how to alleviate such concerns in the business sector, the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (ÚRSO) increased the charge for operating the national grid, one of six components making up the end-electricity price.
Diplomats talk tourism in Slovakia
TOURISM remains one of the most important ways to introduce country to other nations and cultures, say foreign diplomats accredited in Slovakia who offered their view on the country through the eyes of travellers.
SNG seeks stories of art
THE SLOVAK National Gallery (SNG) is preparing a series of documentaries about fine arts from Slovak galleries, titled Stories of art. It wants to show through the short films that artworks are not only physical artefacts, but also reflections of time and the context in which they were created.
UPDATED: 40th birthday brings extra day of jazz
“IN THE BEGINNING, there were three music festivals in Slovakia – the Bratislava Music Festival with classical music, Bratislavská lýra (Bratislava Lyre) with pop music, and the Bratislava Jazz Days,” founder and head of the last festival, jazzman Peter Lipa, told media at the press conference. “Bratislavská lýra ceased to exist in the meantime, BHS turns 50; and we celebrate 40 years now.”
Slovakia 2.0 heads to international festival
VISITORS to three international festivals will be able to see Slovakia 2.0, a 2014 film capturing twenty years of independent Slovakia through the eyes of 10 various directors, during October and November. Moreover, the film will be screened during two film markets abroad, the TASR newswire reported.
Renewable push not moving fast enough
THOUGH increasing renewable energy use is among Slovakia’s priorities, renewable advocates say the steps the government has taken are not enough.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
Slovakia drops in eco freedom index
ECONOMIC freedom in Slovakia dropped compared to last year. According to the latest Economic Freedom of the World 2014 report, based on 2012 statistics, it placed 45th out of 152 compared countries, nine positions down from its 2013 ranking. The country received 7.34 out of 10 points, the SITA newswire reported on October 7.
Quote of the week
“It shows how necessary it is to cooperate; when the mayor and the head of the self-governing region have connections to government structures or structures of NRSR [parliament].”
Towns lower debt, score low in transparency
MUNICIPALITIES did a good job with decreasing their debts in last the three years, but steps to improve transparency have stalled, according to reports by the Institute for Economic and Social Reforms (INEKO) economic think tank and Transparency International Slovakia (TIS).
Slovakia seeks EU compensation
SLOVAKIA has experienced reduced Russian natural gas supplies via Ukraine for about one month. While Russian officials cite technicalities as an explanation, the reduced supplies are also perceived as a political message to Slovakia for sending gas back to Ukraine to which Russia cut gas supplies in June after a price dispute. As Slovakia launched the reverse gas flow to Ukraine within measures taken by the EU to help Ukraine, Slovakia is now asking for compensation from Brussels.
Departing Harabin even took the furniture
FORMER chair of the Supreme Court, Štefan Harabin, took with him all the furnishing of his office, leaving to his successor in the post, Daniela Švecová, only bare walls, a carpetless floor and no furniture; with the Slovak flag being the only thing left in the room, Sme daily reported on October 10.
Traditional government stamps to go electronic
GOVERNMENT stamps in the current form will be used until the end of 2014 when the state will introduce a new electronic stamping system. By the end of the year, some payments for government services will be available also via mobile phones.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- 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
- 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
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- 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
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- 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
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- 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
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process More articles ›
